In what appears to be a perfect storm of public relations controversy, Duke University has objected to the use of its school apparel on the latest season of The White Lotus. The Ratliff family is a complete mess, and they’re proud of their alma maters, North Carolina and Duke.

Earlier this month, Duke put out a statement criticizing the fictional representation on the hit HBO series (story HERE). Mind you, representation means a shirt you or I can go out and buy right now.

This while Duke is currently heading to the Final Four, continuing their college basketball tradition of winning ways.

If you think the Blue Devils are being soft in trying to pick and choose where people wear their clothes, then you’re not alone.

And it also makes their concerns seem a little more petty, when you remember that they’re not even the first school to have a problematic former student at The White Lotus.

You’ll recall Shane Patton from season one. The insecure and over controlling husband, who steers Alexandra Daddario’s character away from her dreams of being a journalist.

Cornell responded by saying “Let me just say that that is not the product placement that I would’ve paid for with that character “But it’s just fiction and we’re just kind of laughing it off.” (story HERE).

The problem here is that schools shouldn’t determine who wears their clothing and where it should be worn. Duke is Duke. They’re a good school, don’t they have more important things to worry about?

And it’s also a possible first amendment issue.

We need to encourage our institutions of learning to be understanding, and to realize that they can’t control the voice of others outside of their campus.

What do you think? Let me know in the comments.

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