Yesterday, passersby attempting to read the anti-Ohio State T-shirts in the window of People's Nation, 126 E. College Ave., were instead confronted with a sign claiming community censorship.

A controversial T-shirt in the window display reads "Buck the F--keyes." Two letters in the obscenity are covered by a sign which reads, "Censored by the Borough of State College and all the right wing, conservative, religious, hypocrites."

"People of different levels of authority are offended by the 'four-letter words'," said Art Fine, owner of People's Nation. "I've had numerous anonymous phone calls, and people of power from council have come to my store and complained. I just hope I satisfy my critics and am doing my part in response to criticism."

However, members of the State College Borough Council said yesterday they have not attempted to censor the store.

Teresa Sparacino, executive director of the Downtown Improvement District (DID), said there has been no official pressure calling for Fine to censor his clothing.

However, she said she has contacted him about removing offensive articles of clothing in his shop windows.

"Mr. Fine is very good about responding to complaints. Whenever we've addressed an issue, he has always been compliant," Sparacino said. "I don't think he's directing this statement at borough council or any government, but rather the numerous people from whom he's heard complaints."

Cathy Dauler, borough council president, said she has fielded complaints about the shirts featured in the store's window displays on a reoccurring basis for the past seven to eight months.

"There has been a cross-section of both students and community residents who recognize me on the street and complain," she said.

Despite complaints, the council has never officially addressed the issue in meetings nor have they been directly involved with the issue, Dauler said.

The audience of Fine's statement is confusing to council member Don Hahn.

"It's a statement he has the right to make, even though it is vague as to who he is talking about," Hahn said. "The longer it stays up there, the less credibility it will have."

State College Mayor Bill Welch said people might incorrectly view the sign as if local government had taken a stand against Fine's shop.

"There are so many positive ways to support Penn State on a T-shirt like 'Happy Valley' or 'Go State,' but I guess that isn't enough compulsion these days to make people open their pocketbooks," Welch said. "We should just grow up and realize that people on all sides of the political spectrum aren't so hot on rude T-shirts," Welch said.

Brandon Means, College Republicans chairman, said he thought Fine's targeting of conservatives was misguided.

"I think it's funny because borough council is mostly Democrats, and State College, in general, has voted overwhelmingly democratic in recent elections," he said.

In fact, Means said Fine was acting in line with the views of the Republican Party.

"You can't stop him from printing what he wants," he said. "If people want to buy his shirts, that's capitalism at its finest."

Fine said he views the sign as a way to make his point that a vocal minority of offended people wish to impede upon his business.

"They're some of my best-selling shirts among students and alumni," Fine said. "I could put a big 'X' or blank piece of paper over the letters, but the sign is my way of showing my point; people need to lighten up about what is just tongue-in-cheek humor."

Amanda Mesa (freshman-biology) said she didn't think the sign had been mandated by the borough but instead was the result of "older people" complaining in a largely student-populated town.

"The shirt is within the store," she said, "so he should be able to put whatever he wants there."

However, some students find the shirts offensive toward Penn State and the school's pride.

"I don't like the shirts; I think we're classier than that," Tom Weaver (junior-architectural engineering) said. "It is demeaning to the other teams."