OSU bookstore Bans beefcake calendar

OSU bookstores off limits to calendar using beefcake

Ohio State University is banning sale in its bookstores of a 1989 calendar featuring mostly bare-chested OSU men often in provocative poses.

The calendar, whose models include three students from Greater Cleveland. has been a sore point for several months with university officials.

Last spring officials threatened legal action against the calendar's producer, an OSU student, unless all references to OSU were dropped.

Anne Chasser, director of the university's licensing office. said the calendar's original name of "Men of OSU" was unauthorized use of the school's registered trademark.

She said the university approved 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 pin-up calendar. '

When the calendar's name was changed to "Images: Men of the Scarlet and Gray," -- in honor of the school's colors-the university decided to drop legal action, even though the calendar included other references to the university. One month's picture includes a towel inscribed with "Ohio Slate," another month shows a model photographed outside Ohio Stadium.

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

Sean Ashbrook, the producer said he decided to create the calendar as a test of his business and marketing skills. Ashbrook, 21, is a sophomore from Akron.

"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," said Ashbrook. "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 after he ran advertisements in the campus newspaper, a magazine and direct mailings to students. The 13 male finalists were photographed for the calendar, but when it came time to shoot the women, legal entanglements with the university began and Ashbrook dropped the women's calendar.

"The university has given me such a hard time. You would think they would foster industry and enterprise," he said.

Although the calendar is banned from OSU bookstores-which carry Playboy. Playgirl and similar magazines-it is available at other Columbus-area bookstores for $6.95. Ashbrook said he was working to put the calendar on bookstore shelves in Cleveland and other parts of the state.

His goal, he said, is to break even financially, which would mean bringing in $15,000 or $16,000. The students were not paid to model.

Michael Jablonski, featured on March pages, is photographed in jeans sitting on a motorcycle and in another photo wearing a swimsuit and showering, said he welcomed the publicity because he wants to be a professional model or actor. Jablonski, 24, is a sophomore from North Olmsted

"And it was fun," he said. "A lot of women say, 'Oh, aren't you the guy in the calendar?"'

What does Jablonski's mother think of her son as calendar art?

"She likes it,' Jablonski said. "She just got a copy of it, and she brought it in to work and now the women there all want one. '

Bradley Root, a junior from Berea, is featured on September's pages and Joe Pestino, a Mayfield Heights freshman, is on October's.