University Officials Prohibit Sale of Bare Chest Calendar in Bookstore

Chest-baring Pinup Calendar gets Short Shrift from OSU

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State University officials have prohibited the campus sale of a 1989 calendar that features pictures of mostly bare-chested OSU male students, often in provocative poses. The calendar has been pulled from shelves of university bookstores by OSU officials who, last spring, threatened legal action unless all references to OSU were eliminated.

University spokeswoman Anne Chasser said the calendar's original name of ``Men of OSU'' was an unauthorized use of the school's registered trademark. She said the school allowed the use of its name only ``if it's a reputable company and in good taste.''

``We decided it was not appropriate for the university to endorse a pinup calendar,'' Chasser said.

When the calendar's name was changed to ``Images: Men of the Scarlet and Gray'' - a reference to the school's colors - the university dropped its legal action, although the calendar includes a picture of a towel inscribed with ``Ohio State'' and a model photographed outside of Ohio Stadium.

``The university has taken the position that we're not going to sue because that would be playing into (the calendar producer's) game plan, which is to get publicity,'' Chasser said.

The calendars now are being sold off campus.

Sean Ashbrook, the producer, said he created the calendar as a test of his business and marketing skills. Ashbrook, 21, is a sophomore from Akron, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported.

``I just happened to notice that a lot of people had calendars - like guys had Sports Illustrated ones - and I thought it would be a good idea,'' Ashbrook said. ``From the research I did, I found that women complained that (calendars) weren't suitable to their tastes, meaning they didn't show enough skin.''

He said he received about 200 photographs of men and women interested in appearing in a calendar of men and another of women. The 13 male finalists were photographed, but the women's calendar idea later was dropped.