School Reverses Decision After Removing Club Sponsor’s ‘All About Jesus’ Slogan From Jerseys
ICC Note: In September, the principal of a Texas high school decided that a club sponsor could not feature their slogan, “It’s not about us, it’s all about Jesus,” on the team’s jerseys. However, after being contacted by the religious liberty group First Liberty, the school decided to reverse their decision and permit the slogan. It was decided that because the club was student-founded and led by students, they would have the authority to accept or reject sponsors and their slogans, instead of the school administrators.
By Heather Clark
10/25/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – A public high school in Texas has reversed its decision to remove a sponsor’s business slogan that it’s “all about Jesus” from the bass fishing club jerseys after receiving a letter from a nationally-recognized religious liberties organization.
According to reports, Texas Flower Mound High School had put out the call for sponsors for its competitive bass fishing team earlier this year. For a donation of $200, sponsors would have their name and logo placed on both the team shirts and website for the next four years.
In September, 1st Choice Marine, led by Wess Jones, decided to sponsor the club in part because Jones’ daughter is on the team. He then submitted his business logo, which includes its motto, “It’s not about us, it’s all about Jesus.”
However, Principal Sonya Lail said that the slogan could not be used.
“I love the 1st Choice Marine Logo and the slogan,” Coach Steve Davis advised Jones via email. “The Christian affiliation will drive me straight to them when I need work on my boat. However, the administration says that I cannot use the slogan with the logo as we are a public school and it would put us in real hot water. So, are they okay if I put the logo on the jersey but omit the slogan, or do we return the check?”
Jones replied that the school could go ahead and use just the logo since there were time constraints for printing, but that he desired to reach out to administration about the matter for the future.