Student, administration clash over Gators T-shirts

When Thomas Reid began selling T-shirts promoting candidates for the upcoming U.S. elections, he did it to encourage a political atmosphere on campus.

He’s sold more than 60 shirts that encourage “Gators,” or UF students, to show their support for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. “Gators for Hillary” and “Gators for Trump,” the shirts read.

But UF’s trademark regulations, which extend to the word “Gators,” may prevent him from selling more.

“I didn’t realize that would become an issue, just putting the word ‘Gators’ on a T-shirt,” the 20-year-old UF finance junior said. “We made sure not to use any of the official logos or fonts.”

UF owns the name “Gators” and alligator head logo, UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes wrote in an email. To sell clothing items with UF’s trademarks requires a license.

“UF is prohibited by federal election law to endorse any candidate for federal elective office,” she said. “Students may not use ‘Gators for candidate’ because that would imply endorsement.”

Sikes said the university remains neutral in political campaigns.

When a conflict concerning trademark occurs, Sikes said the university will “try to work with individuals or companies in an effort to resolve trademark or licensing concerns.”

When asked about what would happen if a student made or sold shirts showing “Gators” endorsing a candidate, Sikes declined to explain general procedures or consequences. Instead, she said others phrases like “Gator students” could be used.

But student organization Gators 4 Hillary hasn’t had any issues with their namesake.

Jake Best, the president of Gators 4 Hillary, said the organization became official last Fall. There haven’t been any problems with the club using the word “Gators” to promote Clinton, he said.

Gators 4 Hillary was approved over the past school year as an official club, he said. It’s in the final step of being renewed for this Fall, and he doesn’t think there should be any problem.

Best said Reid reached out to the organization to create a partnership to sell “Gators for Hillary” shirts, but the club declined.

The club plans to make and sell their own “Gators for Hillary” shirts at their meetings in the future, he said.

However, Best said he would consider an alternative T-shirt design to follow UF’s regulations.

“I guess if that’s the law and they contact me, we’ll have to change it,” he said. “I guess we can’t do anything about that.”

Reid said he’s in the process of getting an official copyright for his designs, but he currently holds a “poor man’s copyright,” which he explained as mailing himself a copy of his work to have the post office stamp the date.

Reid said if he couldn’t use the name “Gators,” he’d have to meet with his business partner to plan out their next steps.

“There’s really nothing harmful coming from what we’re doing,” he said.