Rhode Island student’s concept, “Don’t Drop the Soap,” getting mixed reactions
School projects are getting more intricate by the semester.
So when a Rhode Island design student received a recent assignment, he wasted no time mixing his creativity with an opportunity for commercial profit over the Internet.
John Sebelius – 23-year-old son of Democratic Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius – created a board game for a school project at the Rhode Island School of Design.
There’s nothing politically correct about the young Sebelius’ creation.
“Don’t Drop the Soap” is a 19-inch x 19-inch game board. It comes with five collectible criminal tokens that have such colorful names as “Sal The Butcher.”
There are seven decks of prison location cards, a stack of play cigarettes and this disclaimer: “Not suitable for children.”
Here’s what the kiddos could do with the game if they paid no attention to the disclaimer: “Fight your way through six different exciting locations in hopes of being granted parole. Steal painkillers from the nurse’s desk in the Infirmary. Avoid being cornered by the Aryans in the Shower Room, fight off Latin Kings in Gang War.”
The player’s ultimate goal is to get himself or herself in a position to be granted parole.
Sebelius is peddling the prison-themed game on his Web site, www.gilliusinc.com, and in a store in Lawrence, Kan., home of the University of Kansas.
Does this game affect the image of the young promoter’s governor mother?
A spokeswoman said John Sebelius has the full support of his father and his governor mom, who endorses Barack Obama in the presidential race.
“Both parents are very proud of their son John’s creativity and talent,” said Nicole Corcoran, the governor’s spokeswoman. The Kansas City Star and CNN.com have already run stories on the game.
But some people are not excited about “Don’t Drop the Soap.”
Greg McCowan, a North Lake College mass communications student, disagrees with the theme of the game.
“This is not a good concept for a game,” McCowan said. “It’s discouraging, and it teaches bad qualities to those who’ve never been to jail.”
“This game is intended for mature audiences – not children – and is simply intended for entertainment,” Corcoran replied.
Pricier than most board games, “Don’t Drop the Soap” is retailed at $34.99, plus packaging, shipping and handling.
“The price of the game is definitely a little steep,” said North Lake’s Hunter Miller, who is studying nutrition. “I would definitely play the game just to try it out.”
Some like it. Some don’t. But, whatever you do, “Don’t Drop the Soap.”