Today, Marc Ecko, education reform advocate, launched the Unlimited Justice* campaign, a national battle to end corporal punishment across the United States.  Corporal punishment in public schools is still legal in 20 states. Over 220,000 students are beaten and paddled each year and more than 20,000 seek medical attention as a result. And statistics show that minorities and students with disabilities are disproportionately targeted. Ecko’s campaign will work to pressure legislators at the local, state and federal levels to change these laws as well as engage the public through social media.

“Every 23 seconds in this country, a public school student is beaten in their classroom by an educator, and that is simply unacceptable,” Ecko said. ‘While it may seem impossible, in 20 states, it is still legal for teachers in public schools to paddle, beat, and restrain students as punishment. It’s time to ensure the public – not just in the corporal punishment states, but across this country – is aware that our children are being beaten in public schools. As a nation, it is time to join together to end this practice.”

The Unlimited Justice* campaign is working to target legislators at the local, state and national levels to implore them to ban corporal punishment. It does not matter if corporal punishment is banned at the local, state, or national level, the campaign’s only measure of success is a total ban on corporal punishment in public schools in all 50 states.

The campaign also consists of a website and a mobile app available through iTunes. The app lets users take the Unlimited Justice* platform on the go, engage their friends, share their stories, and contact their legislators.

Ecko added, “There are so many issues around education reform to debate, but this is one we can all agree on. Right, left, old, young, conservative, liberal, hitting students in schools is wrong.”

To learn more about the campaign, please visit www.ecko.com/*. 

Looking beyond the recession, Marc Ecko is heading upmarket for a new tailored clothing and sportswear line that will make its debut at retail this fall.

Marc Ecko left Rutgers to pursue a career as a designer. This fashion and media mogul will return to give the commencement address and collect an honorary degree with his wife (his college sweetheart) by his side.

Some of the collegiate fashions being sold at Rutgers bookstores and ShopEcko.com now have a hip and cool designer edge.

Its stores on the New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses are featuring new Rutgers-inspired looks created by one of the state university's most famous and fashionable students -- 36-year-old Lakewood native,Marc Ecko.

(NEW YORK, NY) November 5, 2008 - Designer Marc Ecko announced today a limited edition apparel line to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the classic film, The Warriors. The collection, which consists of four T-shirt designs and one hoodie, will be available in department and specialty stores and online at shopecko.com on November 7, 2008. The Warriors was originally released on February 9,1979.