Lenita Powers

RGJ

University of Nevada, Reno officials are trying to determine who is behind phony fliers advertising an appearance by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, but with a telephone number for tickets that connects callers to a phone-sex line.

The fliers bear UNR's blue "N" logo at the top and, on the bottom, the words "Presented by the University of Nevada and ASUN," a reference to the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, a student organization.

"The flier in question is a hoax and distasteful," UNR officials said in a written statement Wednesday. "We are particularly disappointed in the unauthorized use of the university's logo and the untrue reference to sponsorship by the university and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada. We apologize for any misunderstanding this might create."

The flier claims Palin is coming to the campus May 25 to speak in the Joe Crowley Student Union's Grand Ballroom on "the role of feminism in modern politics."

The flier includes a 1-800 number to call for tickets , but the number actually is a telephone sex line for women that opens with, "Hello, ladies. Here's your chance to get busy with hot guys in your area and across the county."

No charges are made to the person calling unless the caller presses another number.

A QR code on the flier directs users to an image of a person holding a sign mocking feminist sensitivity.

Jane Tors, UNR's spokeswoman, said the university has a process to review printed materials, which have to be approved before they are posted or distributed.

"This flier was not submitted or reviewed through that process.," Tors said.

"It appears the flier was informally distributed on campus, although it does not appear to have been distributed widely or thoroughly," she said. "Key campus facilities have been notified and will remove the flier as or if it is found."

In the written statement, UNR officials said, "The university strives to create and sustain a safe, respectful and collegial campus environment. We regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding this flier may have caused."