Local Progress

      A group of APA student representatives and I have personally went to the Bloomington Store. One of the Bloomington Store manager expressed frustration in the issue, namely because he feels that the issue would have been less incendiary had it not been brought up on TV. He was quite understanding, however, when we spoke with him regarding the problems and messages that the t-shirt sends. He was told to make no comment on the issue other than the t-shirts were pulled off the shelves. The "1892 Geisha / Dragon lady portrayal of an half nude Asian Women" t-shirt was still for sale, however, and we asked why this was the case and he had said that no notice was given for their removal. I have delivered to the store a letter stating our concerns and also appreciation for their removal of most of the t-shirts. 

      I personally went to the Keystone Fashion Mall Abercrombie & Fitch and asked for the store manager to one of the staff and he gave me an amused look. When I met the store manager and stated my title and asked him regarding the t-shirts, he was not very interested and seem apathetic, especially when he answered with nothing other than "we can give no comments but we can give you the customer service line" repeatedly. 

Tuesday, April 23rd, 2002

    A group of student and student leaders headed by Daisy Rodriguez arrived at the Abercrombie Store at 1:30pm to express the distaste for the apathy of the local Abercrombie & Fitch. Many comments were made, including from an Asian American manager who expressed that he himself find the t-shirt funny although he was aware that some people might find the t-shirt offensive.