A new starting point did not deter students from participating Wednesday night in the Undie Run, a tri-annual finals week tradition.
Though the run, in which thousands of students clad only in their underwear run through campus, has historically started at the corner of Gayley and Landfair avenues, student leaders and the administration pushed for it to begin in Strathmore Tunnel this quarter to alleviate safety concerns.
The new route winds through Strathmore Tunnel, into Bruin Plaza, up Bruin Walk and ends at Shapiro Fountain near Royce Hall.
Students showed up ready to go at the corner of Gayley Avenue and Strathmore Drive, and police officers on the street corner blocked traffic as the body of students stretched across Gayley Avenue.
In past years, the administration has expressed concerns about students running through open streets. This quarter, administrators also noted that once the Ronald Reagan Medical Center opens, Gayley Avenue will become an emergency route for ambulances and must remain unblocked at all times.
Dustin Hooten, a third-year French and mathematics student, said he was not sure the run’s new route was really effective in solving these problems.
“The reality was that everyone was filling up the intersection of Gayley and Strathmore, so an ambulance couldn’t even get through there anyway,” he said.
He added that he believed the starting point would have to be moved still further toward campus to have the desired effect.
“Unless they moved more toward the tunnel, the new starting location doesn’t resolve the problem of clearing up Gayley for ambulances,” he said.
But for the most part, students seemed happy with the new route Wednesday night ““ they cheered, denouncing USC and supporting UCLA, with a few 8-claps mixed in.
There is something obvious about collectively stripping down that brings UCLA students together, Hooten said.
“If you’re not in your underwear, you’re the odd person out,” said Hooten.
Fourth-years Matt Marelius, a history student, and Barbara Nguyen, a comparative literature student, were back for their second Undie Run.
“I like the juxtaposition of this during finals week,” Marelius said.
Nguyen shivered, saying people had thrown a bucket of water on them on Kelton Avenue.
“It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s a great experience. I’d do it again,” Hooten said.
When it seemed the sidewalk could not possibly hold any more people, whistles blew, and the crowd took off in a sprint.
At the end of the run, students gathered and cheered again, intermixed with clothed students and onlookers.
The crowd filled Shapiro Fountain, splashing one another in the cold night air. As the Undie Runners began to disperse, “UCLA” cheers could still be heard echoing through the empty campus.