In blue: U-Store sells fresh colors beside 'dorky' orange and black

Three cheers for the orange and the powder, denim-heather or navy blue?

In an effort to fulfill the requests of students and many tourists, the U-Store this year has begun selling Princeton T-shirts in more colors that do not reflect the time-honored tiger colors, said Virginia France, director of marketing for the store.

The new alternative colors, which also happen to be those of Columbia University, light blue and white, upset some traditionalists among the student body.

When John Andrews '05 learned of the new designs, he was "appalled," he said.

Andrews said he could not understand why the U-Store would sell anything other than orange and black with the intent that students would wear such apparel to support their University's teams during athletic events.

"It's an insult to our Princeton heritage," he said, even though he acknowledged that orange and black is an "atrocious," yet endearing color combination. "Black does have a very morbid connotation."

France said the U-Store always strives to remain "at the height of fashion" and stock whatever people want.

"Blue is a very hot color right now," she said. "But orange and black will always be popular at Princeton."

France said the U-Store has always carried insignia apparel in colors other than orange and black.

"We've been carrying navy forever, but maybe we're carrying more this year," she said.

The U-Store carries two light blue styles of 70 unisex T-shirt styles, and eight light-blue styles out of 28 distinctly women's varieties, France said. Recently, France said the women's apparel department sold 36 light blue shirts and 136 of gray, white and orange in one month.

The variety of colors appeals mostly to tourists who are not particular about the color of their souvenir, France said.

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"Not everybody who buys T-shirts and insignia stuff is a Princeton student or alumnus," she said. "They might just be a tourist passing through. Those people wouldn't care as much, but whether they're students or tourists they don't want to buy something they look dorky in."

But as for other students, the new colors do not affect their Princeton pride.

Ann Evans '04 who was trying on a light blue insignia shirt at the U-Store recently, said she just wanted something to warm up in before volleyball practice.

Brandon Lafving '05 was similarly unfazed.

"I don't think the school colors necessarily need to be advertised with the name of the University. The other colors still spread the Princeton name," he said.