Around 300 students gather for ‘Underground Undie Run’

Clad in nothing but their undergarments, around 300 students took part in an unofficial “Underground Undie Run” on March 17, continuing the quarterly tradition in spite of disapproval from administrators and student leadership.

The run may be one of the last Undie Runs at UCLA, said Robert Naples, associate vice chancellor of student and campus life. Though the campus tradition was canceled in July because of safety concerns and outside attendance, students and administration have been talking about instituting a more administration-friendly tradition beginning spring quarter.

Police mostly cited students for jaywalking. Intoxication did not seem to be a significant issue, said Nancy Greenstein, a university police spokeswoman.

A primary concern in previous years, the presence of outside students was not specifically addressed, Greenstein said.

“(Police) were checking for just ID, not UCLA ID,” she said.

Though the event took place despite warnings, it was relatively short and peaceful, Naples said.

The run, which began at midnight and ended at 12:30, was short-lived with runners gathering at the intersection of Gayley Avenue and Strathmore Place at 11:45 p.m.

Participants ran from the intersection onto the main university campus, down to the inverted fountain and back to the crosswalk.

While the original route involved jogging to the Intramural Field, through Bruin Plaza and Ackerman turnaround, the majority of students dispersed after returning to the intersection from the fountain, which was not part of the planned route.

Before the run began, about 15 students returned to their residences after a UCPD officer told them to put their clothes on and leave or have their diplomas held by the dean of students.

Yet a mass of students gathered in spite of the warnings, expressing their desire to continue the quarterly event.

“It’s a rare opportunity to run around in your underwear, and as long as I don’t break the law, I’ll be OK,” said Allison Green, a first-year American literature student.

The run, which also took place fall quarter, was organized by students via a Facebook event called “UCLA’s Winter 2010 Underground Undie Run.”

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