By Shana Makos, Fraternal Values Society Coordinator
Call me a stick in the mud, but I’ve never been a huge fan
of Bud Light’s #UpForWhatever campaign. It’s confusing. “The perfect beer for
whatever happens.” What does that even mean?
The perfect beer for your grandmother’s funeral?
The perfect beer for watching a house burn to the ground?
The perfect beer for removing “no” from your vocabulary for
the night?
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| Credit: Reddit |
Genius, wasn’t it?! Yeah… genius for providing the space for
us to lament about how absolutely, utterly, insanely wrong that statement is.
We’re not the first ones to take stabs at Bud Light’s poorly thought-out
marketing. Individual consumers and media outlets alike have made it very clear
that the slogan promotes rape culture.
What we are the first to do, however, is use this as an
opportunity to remind everyone that it is always okay to say “no” when you’re
not actually #UpForWhatever, no matter the situation. Your individual consent
extends to far more than instances of sexual assault (the primary perspective
media outlines have taken on this snafu).
Hazing.
Drinking.
Ditching class.
Disrespectful behavior.
These are all instances in which you can (and should) say
“no” when you know it’s not the right thing to do and don’t feel comfortable.
Bud Light’s faux pas reminds that that we need to educate
each other about our right to say “no” in uncomfortable situations. There are
always opportunities for you to speak up about injustices and not fall victim
to the bystander effect. Do so with confidence and know that your national
organizations will stand up for you when you’ve done the right thing.
Don’t just be #UpForWhatever. Be #UpForIntegrity.
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Hazing prevention hotline and resources:
