The Triangle

Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Dave Hernandez

Victoria's Secret PINK is passing out 500 free PINK t-shirts Dec. 5, before the Woman's Basketball game, to show their appreciation for Drexel's enthusiasm in the Nominate Your School campaign, according to Sarah Hoekzema, Victoria's Secret public relations manager.

"Although PINK doesn't encourage cheating, we were amused by what students would do to be at the top of the poll," Hoekzema wrote in an e-mail.

On Oct. 21 a computer script was written by Tim Plunkett and another student to increase Drexel's votes from approximately 1,000 to 5.2 million on the Victoria's Secret Nominate Your School poll.

The arrangements for the promotion began about two weeks ago, according to Sean Joyce, director of sports marking.

"To have a company as popular as Victoria's Secret want to do a promotion around a Woman's Basketball game is pretty exciting," Joyce wrote in an e-mail.

Victoria's Secret submitted all of the proper paperwork and paid the royalties through the Collegiate Licensing Company, which is an organization that handles all of Drexel's logos, according to Noah Cohen, a University spokesman.

Victoria's Secret chose to hold the event around the Women's Basketball game because it seemed like a good opportunity to reach out to PINK fans, according to Hoekzema.

"We were approached by Victoria's Secret, they wanted to do this event, and because a lot of students were excited about it, our athletics department was happy to assist," Cohen said.

Jennifer Izzo, a senior communications major, has been told by Relevant Marketing that Drexel will receive a collegiate line of clothing from Victoria's Secret; however, she has not spoken directly to Victoria's Secret.

"From what they've [Relevant Marketing] told me this is kind of like, to create a stir on campus and get everyone excited for when Victoria's Secret does the line," Izzo said.

However, Victoria's Secret was not able to confirm Drexel is one of the schools receiving a clothing line.

"PINK is in the process of finalizing agreements with a number of colleges and universities. While we are not in a position to discuss which partnerships we will be announcing next, we are excited about the potential opportunities that lie ahead," Hoekzema wrote in an email.

A street team was on campus Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to pass out flyers and make students aware of the event, according to Izzo.

Drexel is not the only university to receive a promotional Victoria's Secret event. Texas Tech University, another school where students wrote a computer script, also had a Victoria's Secret promotional event on campus.

Texas Tech University had an event Dec. 2 giving out 500 T-shirts at their Women's Basketball game, according to Elvis Moya, director of marketing and promotions for women's basketball at Texas Tech University.

"It's a great promotion," Moya said.

They average about 280 to 300 students per game, however close to 600 students came to this game, according to Moya.

"I think anytime that you have even a small promotion definitely is another reason for students to at least to come out to the game and then once they're there they are going to see a really good brand of basketball," Rob Falcone, DAC Pack president, said.

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