JAMAICA, N.Y. -- St. Johns University student-athletes are cleaning up this week, and its not just against opponents on the field of play. The Red Storms Student-Athlete Advisory Committee is sponsoring Wash Out Your Mouth Week until Saturday, March 23 in an effort to help their fellow students, as well as coaches, administrators and professors, watch their language.

The effort to increase the awareness of the use of profanities in everyday conversation, SAAC set Wash Out Your Mouth Week to begin on Monday, March 17. The program will run through Sunday, March 24.

Student-athletes have come up with alternate phrases  such as ship and Dont Itch and Moan - to avoid using foul language. The interest in the program has spread as well, with many departments on campus promoting it.

This has been a goal of ours, Associate Athletic Director Mary Pat Beirne said. Athletes know they can filter their language when theyre around youngsters after games and when theyre doing community service. They wanted to try and do it for a full week, and I think its something that will really benefit all of them. Were just excited the whole campus has taken up the task too.

St. Johns fraternities and sororities are running programs, and each of the Red Storms 21 athletic teams are having contests as well, with coaches self-reporting the improvement in each teams communication skills.

Weve tried it in the past, but I dont think weve ever had this many people respond, junior mens tennis player, and SAAC President, Jake Maxwell (Glen Cove, N.Y.) said. Ill be the first to admit that its difficult, but its also something that we should all be aware of, whether its when were competing or just hanging out with our friends. People think that swearing might be cool, but it doesnt send the right image.