By JORDAN MARSHALL

Staff Writer

Jesus has many names: Lord, Savior, Christ and now, homeboy. When did Jesus become such a pop culture icon?

The idea of Jesus being a friend or buddy has been around since the disco ages, but now it is back and bigger than ever.

About a year-and-s-half ago, Urban Outfitters, a store known for carrying the latest West Coast trends, started carrying the "Jesus is my homeboy" T-shirts. The shirts, created by Chris Hoy and Doug Williams of the Teenage Millionaire clothing line, have caused quite a stir across campus.

Some students think the new T-shirt trend sweeping the nation is just a fad, and in a couple of months a new style will come through the runway doors.

"I definitely think it is a here today, gone tomorrow kind of thing," Natalie Metrejean, a freshman business major, said.

Celebrities such as Brad Pitt, Pamela Anderson and Ashton Kutcher have been spotted sporting the hottest T-shirt design.

Metrejean said she thinks the celebrities who wear the shirts are just "buying into the fad."

Burrows Wheless, a freshman art major, said he thinks "Jesus is my homeboy" is just a novelty phrase, and people like to shop at thrift stores because the shirts there are unique and cheap.

"It is almost an inevitable fact that some clothing company will want to capitalize on the phrase," Wheless said. "They make cheap-looking shirts with funny phrases or slogans on them to make it look like the person wearing it got it at a thrift store of some sort, and, of course, they aren't sold at three or four bucks a piece."

Metrejean said she does not like it when the shirts are worn inappropriately.

"I think it is stupid for celebrities who wear the shirt with really short shorts; it is just hypocritical," Metrejean said.

Is this new trend just a joke, or are some students taking the meaning of Jesus being a homeboy to heart?

Metrejean said if she wore the shirt, she would not take it as a joke because Jesus is a part of her life, but she said she is afraid other people are degrading the meaning of Christ.

"It is kind of making very little of who he is when people wear it as a fashion statement, and it is taking away his awesomeness," Metrejean said.

Wheless said he does not think religion is being watered down by the phrase.

"I don't think anyone who actually values religious beliefs of their own will let religion be eroded by some fashion trend," Wheless said.

Kyle Jagers, a sophomore basic and career studies major, said he thinks the celebrities are wearing the shirts because it is funny and just to be different.

"I think people are taking it to be more like a joke," Jagers said. "I am glad that at least his name is getting out there, even if it is in a bad way. At least Christ is being preached."

Jagers also said he thinks that most people wearing the shirts say, "Jesus is my homeboy" in a comical way.

"It would be awesome if people really knew Jesus is their homeboy," Jagers said.

Wheless said he could see why the catch phrase is a way for people to identify with Jesus as their friend.

"If someone wants to really identify with a religious figure, he or she wouldn't be doing it by buying some overpriced shirt from a huge clothing conglomerate," Wheless said.

After the Jesus freak fad has come and gone, will designers move toward other biblical figures?

Maybe the future will hold the new catch phrase "Adam is my amigo."