USDA posters raise eyebrows

By: Nevin Batiwalla
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section:News

U of M assistant professor Terra Smith always washes her hands for the recommended 20 seconds - well almost always."I count out loud," Smith said. "I tell my student all the time 'if you only quickly wash your hands you are eating your own bacteria.'"To promote a health awareness campaign, the health sciences professor tried to put up food safety initiative posters on campus aimed at reaching the at-risk audience of college students. However, the posters, which are made by the United States Department of Agriculture, caught the attention of University administration.Edwina Washington, assistant vice president of business services, denied Smith's request to put up the posters. Smith said Washington did not give her a clear reason why, only that she found the posters objectionable.The three posters, which use cartoons to discuss hand washing, food storage and food cooking, tell the story of Dick and Jane. Jane practices healthy habits, while Dick does not, and as a result, he gets sick and turns green. "Don't be a Dick," is at the bottom of each poster.As a food professional, Smith said the posters do what they are supposed to do."It might be surprising but in a reasonable way," Smith said. "It makes you take note. We need people to take note."What Smith said she finds unacceptable are the unhealthy habits she witnesses on a daily basis. One unpleasant incident she recalled involved someone changing a diaper and then making a salad.The posters in question are part of a $5,000 grant from the State University of Rutgers awarded to Smith to set up a food safety initiative.Although Smith said she doesn't find the posters offensive or objectionable, if it was up to her she said she would let students have a voice."Students should make the final decision," Smith said.Erin Hill, senior photography major, said the posters are geared to grab people's attention."It stands out, so more people will read it," Hill said. "I do not see anything wrong with it."Hill said The University shouldn't prohibit the posters from being put up on campus."It's college, if it was an elementary school - maybe," Hill said.The U of M policy on literature distribution by non-student organizations offers many reasons to prohibit written materials. The policy states that no obscene literature or material shall be distributed on any property owned or used by The University. The Daily Helmsman tried to contact Washington, but she denied a request to be interviewed. "She doesn't respond to questions," her assistant Julia Watkins said.With or without posters, Smith said she would continue her food safety campaign. She offered a few tips to students to ensure they wash their hands thoroughly."Say your ABC's, or sing happy birthday twice," Smith said.