‘Inappropriate’ product stirs local controversy

After buying a pack of fun straws from Wal-Mart for her 3-year-old daughter in February, Andrea Bailey of Kentucky said she found not just the usual hearts and squiggles. Two of the straws appeared to be phallic-shaped.\nBailey’s purchase of the straws set off controversy that has caused Wal-Mart to pull them off store shelves and to investigate the claim. \n“To me, they’re not the best shape to be putting into a packet of kid straws,” Bailey said.\nWhen asked whether this was an inappropriate shape, most interviewed on campus agreed their first impression was the shape was a phallus, not something innocent like a rocket ship.\n“Just because my filthy mind immediately goes to penis, though, doesn’t mean that’s what it was intended to be,” said Marcey Tidwell, a nurse at IU.\nHowever, Bachelorette.com, a Web site for bachelorette parties that sells everything from tiaras and boas to cups and candy, also sells “Penis Sippy Straws.” These straws are the same shape as the ones in the fun pack from Wal-Mart. The only difference is Wal-Mart includes hearts and charges $1.69, while bachelorette.com advertises to adults and charges $3.99.\n“I think somebody knew what they were doing and just didn’t care,” Bailey said.\nSophomore Marios Fellouka said he doesn’t believe Eagle Marks Corporation, the creators of the fun straws, would intentionally put them in the pack if they believed they would be seen as something other than the Arby’s hat logo or a bell.\n“I think a child would see it as a bell but adults have dirtier minds,” sophomore Kris Fuller said.\nEagle Marks Corporation was not available for comment.\nFew of those who attempted to identify the straw’s shape saw anything but a penis. However, there were some who didn’t see the phallus.\n“She needs to get her mind out of the gutter, obviously,” said auctioneer Brian Rigby, who identified the straw as a bell.\nThe product was pulled from the shelves of Wal-Mart stores at Bailey’s request and the issue is being investigated.\nWhether Wal-Mart decides the straws are inappropriate or not, Bailey stands by her decision that the straws shouldn’t be in the hands of children.\n“I just wanted to keep them away from the kids,” Bailey said.