To those university
officials and student representatives
considering regulation and over-coordination of the Undie Run,
we have one thing to say: Hands off our drawers.
The Undie Run, a recently established and wildly popular
tradition, takes place on Wednesday night every quarter during
finals week. Students gather at the top of Landfair Avenue and run
““ in all their mostly naked glory ““ down the street, a
public display of liberation from oppressive final exams.
It was an event initiated by a small group of students and is
one of the few activities for UCLA students the university or
student government hasn’t touched. It’s an event by
students in their underwear, for students in their underwear, and
that’s part of what makes it special.
But last week, the Undergraduate Students Association Council
formed a committee to find a solution for safety concerns about the
event. University police and administrators have expressed concern
about traffic blockages, community complaints and property damage,
as well as the general safety of the runners.
While the committee may serve a legitimate purpose to make the
event as safe as possible, it also looks, at this point, like an
unnecessary step, and could be a foot in the door to university
regulation of the Undie Run.
UCLA has seen its share of traditions killed by university
entities or local law enforcement ““ and some were probably
for good reason. Midnight Yell ““ which still exists on a
smaller scale as students shout out of windows at midnight during
finals week ““ degenerated in 1999 into students burning
couches and throwing rocks and beer bottles at police and
firemen.
Some criticized the response of the Los Angeles Police
Department to the incident as overly aggressive, but this board
agrees with Chancellor Albert Carnesale’s assessment of the
destruction at the time: “As members of the Westwood
community, we abhor this activity by students or by anyone
else.”
Then last spring, the Interfraternity Council, likely under
pressure from UCLA officials and local law enforcement, decided to
permanently ban Black Sunday, during which fraternities held large
parties on the day before fall rush activities.
While many party animals were sad to see it go, there are
legitimate safety concerns, with thousands of drunk students trying
to go to just a small number of frat parties.
But clamping down at this point on the Undie Run seems
premature.
The vast majority of students who participate in the Undie Run
are there for a simple, obvious reason ““ to run in their
unmentionables.
They aren’t there to cause property destruction or
endanger the safety of others. For those individuals who are
breaking the law, UCPD can and should take appropriate action. We
fully believe the event should be conducted in a safe manner and
that university police should have a presence during the event to
make sure things don’t get out of hand.
If in the future the event becomes too dangerous for students
take part in safely, so be it. At that point, it should be shut
down.
But for now, let Undie Run run its course.