Missouri bans Kansas logo from plates

The Border War may have come to an end, but it seems tensions are still high. Missouri lawmakers recently voted three times to ban Jayhawk logos from appearing on state license plates. Although University students have spent their collegiate years in Kansas, many grew up in Missouri and some graduates are finding work there.

Michael MacGregor, a senior from St. Louis, grew up among MU fans, but didn’t agree with his home state’s decision.

“Being from Missouri, I have a unique understanding of the Border War,” MacGregor said. “I have attempted to be a fair judge of the conflict, but this move by Missouri seems completely egregious.”

The ban was led by Missouri state representatives Caleb Jones and Stephen Webber, who was vocal about his opinion on the Jayhawk logo.

“Like generations of Missourians before us, we face an incursion from the west,” Webber said on the House floor May 15. “It will be repulsed. This is the effort to affix the dreaded, disgusting Jayhawk’s symbol to our Missouri license plates.”

Webber said that he would be willing to support removing the ban if Kansas basketball coach Bill Self agreed to play Missouri next year, which Self stated in February “will not happen in the immediate future.”

MacGregor called Missouri’s departure from the Big 12 a “cardinal sin” to Kansas fans and defended Self’s refusal to schedule a game.

“Here in Kansas, we have a sense of morality and commitment,” MacGregor said. “We stand by this principle and refuse to play them since they have flaked off to the SEC.”

Alec White, a sophomore from Overland Park, said he wouldn’t care if he saw a Kansas license plate with the Missouri tiger on it, but the rivalry should be left to the students.

“It’s stupid. They make the rivalry too big. People take it too seriously,” White said. “Elected officials shouldn’t base their governing on a rivalry.”

Curtis O’Hearn graduated from the University in May and is now working in Kansas City, Mo., but he doesn’t like that he can’t support his alma mater.

“I don’t exactly know when or if I’ll be registering for a Missouri license plate, but I’d still like the option,” O’Hearn said. “Lots of kids from Kansas City go to KU. It’s so close to the border that it seems fair enough that we should to be able to support our school.”

Edited by Megan Hinman

Contact at dderryberry@kansan.com .
  • Updated Jul. 24, 2012 at 4:57 pm