MCS sports P2
Sexually suggestive-explicit calendar in the locker room: I have sent Jeff the photo and blacked out as much identifying information as possible.
The photo was sent by a parent. It was posted by a team player after it was received as a Christmas gift. This is a Sports Illustrated Swim Suit edition calendar. It was first posted in late December, early January and obviously was still up in February. I have edited out the balloons that were hung by parents while decorating for tourney play. Parents posted photos to cover the breast area and other models face. I am told they were uncomfortable removing something that the “coach should have taken down” but I do NOT have that directly from the parents. Some players were upset, a few thought it funny. Some liked the calendar. The nature of the calendar especially the slight dark line above the bikini line/ pubic area that is being pulled down appears to expose a great deal more than just belly. Regardless, this calendar would not be allowed in a boy’s locker room, in fact it’s legally not allowed in places of employment, banks, restaurants or other public places. It qualifies as a violation under federal civil and harassment laws. The school was in a very precarious situation. Male coaches would likely be “nonrenewed” or fired. You don’t give a pass for poor decisions just because one is female or lesbian. Finally and unfortunately the calendar was up for several months and during tours of the new locker rooms by other school systems. I am told an administrative staff member insisted the calendar be removed. – which it eventually was
The coach reported she remembered seeing the calendar but didn’t take it down. There are those in the community that will make this issue and several others about a lesbian wanting to promote the lesbian lifestyle but there are also people like me who think this was an extremely bad decision to allow the calendar to be placed and if the coach wasn’t supervising the locker room the situation becomes worse. In fairness to all, I’m told this is a coach who will not enter the locker room until her players are dressed- why- I have no idea- but I would like to think it’s because she is courteous and doesn’t want confusion about her motives. Still my high school coaches were always in the locker room. Offices were right outside the entrance to the showers and lockers and areas were always policed for cleanliness and to be sure players hadn’t forgotten anything. I know because the coach often had my coat or homework waiting the next day and I had few extra laps to run. In the end we all know the calendar was a bad idea. We can’t blame parents for covering parts of it up nor can we say they should have taken it down. The girls that thought it inappropriate would not want to upset the coach or their team mate. Let’s just keep it honest and say it was the coach’s job to immediately deal with the issue.
At issue is why the coach didn’t insist the calendar be taken down when she saw it. I provided my phone number to the coach but didn’t receive a call- so I asked for persons who had spoken with her to solicit an answer. I was told she conveyed that she rarely went into the locker room and never really went back where the girls lockers and showers were. I questioned this answer because I found it difficult to believe that a coach would not walk a locker room before turning off lights and locking doors after practice. You can lock in kids that way. I further questioned it because coaches have an obligation to check to be sure players and their belongings including homework, cell phones, back packs or purses are all secured – and of course that players are tidying up after themselves. Soooo, when that response was conveyed there was additional or alternate information that came forward.
On a special note to the player who sent me a post. I know it doesn’t make sense to you that such things can be purchased and therefore by your logic it shouldn’t be a problem to post them. But in fact we can buy many things but we are restricted from posting or taking them anywhere we want. Some good examples include: we can’t drive with open containers of alcohol even though it’s legal to sit in a vehicle without keys in the ignition and drink it. You’d think keys in the ignition wouldn’t matter if the car is turned off- but it does. You’d think since you can purchase a gun you could take it anywhere but you can’t. You’d think that since hard core porn is easily purchased you could also post it anywhere but you can’t. You can buy aspirin anywhere and carry it with you most places but it’s my understanding you can’t have them on you or take them at school without the school nurse knowing. You are too young and lucky to remember the days when these types of calendars (or worse) were legal to post anywhere and everywhere. There are very good reasons we don’t keep sexually suggestive things in work places and locker rooms- two of the most important are safety and the fact we aren’t in the locker room or at work to be sexually curious or aroused we are there for something far more important. Keep asking the tough questions and giving your input- no matter who tells you not to speak your mind. But here’s a big tip- ask you dad if your coach was male if it was okay that he let that calendar stay up- see what he says. In the end such calendars are a federal rights violation and can be classes as harassment. Still, keep up the good work and drop in if you want to chat further. Tami
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