2008 Woodie Awards
Miami students campaign against counterfeit items
Stephani Hunter
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Campus
Boucas said there will be activities where students will be asked to tell the difference between real and fake fashion items, as well as an opportunity to sign a petition to stop counterfeiting in all markets-not just fashion.
According to the IACC College Outreach Campaign handbook, only around 4 percent of fakes fall into the luxury category. Other industries targeted by counterfeiting include the automobile, food, software and pharmaceutical industries.
The weeklong event will culminate Thursday, April 10 with a fashion show and raffle at Uptown Park. The band formerly known as Marking Twain will perform.
According to Boucas, students who stop by the booths to answer the 'spot the fake' questions will automatically be entered in the raffle. They must be at the fashion show to win the grand prize-a real Marc Jacobs bag.
Boucas said the central goal of Get Real is to help students realize the impact of their decision when they purchase counterfeit items.
She also said the group really wants to stress to people how bad it is to buy counterfeit items.
"When people buy a counterfeit item, all of the money goes directly into someone's pocket," Boucas said. "It is not taxable, which means that the money cannot be used for healthcare or education like real items that are taxed."
The group wants students to realize that though fashion is the focus, it is not the only aspect of counterfeiting.
Boucas said that her most startling revelation was that counterfeiting affects other industries, such as medicine, airplanes and vehicle parts.
California State University, New York University, the University of Miami and the Ohio State University are also participating in the IACC College Outreach Campaign.
According to the IACC Web site, other schools have made YouTube videos, signed petitions against counterfeits and created Facebook.com groups to help raise awareness.
However, King believes the fashion show is unique to Miami University.
The students have been working since September on their campaign and are financially sponsored by IACC, Rolex and Paul Werth Associates, a public relations firm based out of Columbus.
According to King, the group was given $5,000 by its sponsors to raise awareness.
"(The campaign) is not necessarily to stop people from buying fake things, but to get them to think further about their actions," Boucas said.
John Keenan, a sophomore at Miami believes that counterfeiting is a big problem, but that there is not a lot of awareness about it.
"I think it sounds like a good program and a good way to make people more knowledgeable," he said. "I might stop by the booths if I see them around campus, but I probably won't go to the fashion show because I am not who the group seems to be targeting."
According to the IACC College Outreach Campaign handbook, only around 4 percent of fakes fall into the luxury category. Other industries targeted by counterfeiting include the automobile, food, software and pharmaceutical industries.
The weeklong event will culminate Thursday, April 10 with a fashion show and raffle at Uptown Park. The band formerly known as Marking Twain will perform.
According to Boucas, students who stop by the booths to answer the 'spot the fake' questions will automatically be entered in the raffle. They must be at the fashion show to win the grand prize-a real Marc Jacobs bag.
Boucas said the central goal of Get Real is to help students realize the impact of their decision when they purchase counterfeit items.
She also said the group really wants to stress to people how bad it is to buy counterfeit items.
"When people buy a counterfeit item, all of the money goes directly into someone's pocket," Boucas said. "It is not taxable, which means that the money cannot be used for healthcare or education like real items that are taxed."
The group wants students to realize that though fashion is the focus, it is not the only aspect of counterfeiting.
Boucas said that her most startling revelation was that counterfeiting affects other industries, such as medicine, airplanes and vehicle parts.
California State University, New York University, the University of Miami and the Ohio State University are also participating in the IACC College Outreach Campaign.
According to the IACC Web site, other schools have made YouTube videos, signed petitions against counterfeits and created Facebook.com groups to help raise awareness.
However, King believes the fashion show is unique to Miami University.
The students have been working since September on their campaign and are financially sponsored by IACC, Rolex and Paul Werth Associates, a public relations firm based out of Columbus.
According to King, the group was given $5,000 by its sponsors to raise awareness.
"(The campaign) is not necessarily to stop people from buying fake things, but to get them to think further about their actions," Boucas said.
John Keenan, a sophomore at Miami believes that counterfeiting is a big problem, but that there is not a lot of awareness about it.
"I think it sounds like a good program and a good way to make people more knowledgeable," he said. "I might stop by the booths if I see them around campus, but I probably won't go to the fashion show because I am not who the group seems to be targeting."
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