The Young Democrats club at the University of Kansas adapted the institution’s trademarked “Rock Chalk, Jayhawk” slogan — often chanted at sporting events — for use on T-shirts that promote Barack Obama.

The university gave the students permission to print 100 shirts that say “Barack Chalk Jayhawk” as long as they only went to members of the club, according to news reports.

But now that the Democratic governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, has been photographed holding one of the shirts, the university is worried that it might look as if it is backing Senator Obama’s candidacy, according to the Associated Press. Governor Sebelius is a prominent supporter of Senator Obama and is often mentioned as being among the potential running mates the candidate is considering.

Officials in the university’s athletics department, which monitors trademarks for the institution, have told the Young Democrats not to print any more shirts, the AP said. It quoted Jim Marchiony, the university’s associate athletics director, as saying that a line needed to be drawn before it appeared that the state university was furthering any political candidacy.