USA Network’s Characters Unite nationwide bus tour stopped in Free Speech Alley Thursday and gave free t-shirts to University students to promote tolerance across the country.
The personalized shirts gave students the opportunity to insert one word into the phrase “I won’t stand for…” and stamp the word onto their t-shirts. Among the word options were bullying, homophobia, sexism, religious intolerance, racism and ableism.
Sharon Bethea, public affairs manager for Cox Communications, which partnered with the tour, said the tour was part of an effort to promote tolerance across the country and within Universities.
Gina Stephani, tour producer, said the top three words students chose on the tour thus far are discrimination, hate and injustice. Of the three stops the tour has made, 950 to 1300 shirts were passed out at each stop, Stephani said.
“The tour’s main goal is to give the public the opportunity to speak out and create an awareness movement,” Stephani said.
This is the first time the tour has come to universities across the country, Stephani said. The University of Virginia, N.C. State and the University of Georgia were the first three stops on the tour.
Maia Broussard, PK-3 teacher education junior, said she chose racism because “colorism” wasn’t an option.
“I think it’s cool; free shirt and it spreads a message.”