| Police threats result in
smaller turnout at U. Michigan's Naked Mile
By David Enders
Michigan Daily
U. Michigan
(U-WIRE) ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- They sang "Hail to the
Victors" as they reached the Cube sculpture in Regents'
Plaza. They encouraged the crowd to make noise. One rode a
unicycle. Another was in a wheelchair.
And none of them were wearing clothes.
Estimates are that no more than 400 people participated in
this year's Naked Mile - down from last year's number of
between 400 to 800 - but they did not lack enthusiasm. The
14-year-old run that celebrates the end of winter classes drew
a crowd of about 10,000 spectators, similar in size to last
year's.
"The number of runners was down dramatically,"
said Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Diane Brown.
That could be because the Ann Arbor Police Department made
good on a threat to arrest runners this year for indecent
exposure - something they have never done in the past.
In a written statement, the AAPD said their officers made
four arrests - three for indecent exposure and one for
malicious destruction. There were also a "number of
potential participants" who cooperated when officers told
them not to disrobe, according to the statement.
Brown said DPS officers made 10 arrests for "various
alcohol violations" and one for a concealed handgun. But
officers said the crowd was more subdued than it has been in
past years, despite its size.
"It's bigger," said DPS Lieutenant Joe Piersante
as he stood near the cube in Regents' Plaza. "It's Friday
night, nice weather, but for the most part, (the crowd's)
pretty good."
The runners started around 11 p.m. - later than usual.
Security volunteers said the later start was possibly due to
traffic on South University Street. But drivers were forced to
find an alternate route when safety volunteers took it upon
themselves to block traffic.
"If we don't stop cars from going through, someone's
going to get hurt," said Bill Wahl, a third-year
Engineering student as he stood in the middle of South
University Avenue near Church Street. Traffic was also stopped
on South State Street, where the run's route crosses the
street in front of the Michigan Union.
Other safety concerns, particularly the groping of female
runners, seemed to be eased by this year's Naked Mile. There
appeared to be a smaller percentage of women in the run this
year, and DPS received no reports of sexual misconduct.
"A number of people going by said 'No one touched
me,'" Brown said.
The women that did run said they took precautions against
both groping and persons filming the event, which has become a
major concern over the last few years.
"The students that were on either side made it totally
safe," said one senior girl. "I'm disappointed that
more people didn't run. I squirted the cameras and people
cheered."
Another senior girl ran with two of her best male friends
on either side.
"One person slapped my ass," she said. "But
I felt safe for the most part."
Despite the crowd, the event had an overwhelming sense of
jubilation to it, contradicting the debate that has surrounded
the run's safety and the manner in which laws would be
enforced.
"I feel great," said Engineering senior Damon
Brunson immediately before turning cartwheels in front of the
crowd on the lawn in front of Angell Hall. "Invigorated
and liberated. But I need some clothes."
"I think its all done in good spirit," said a
California man who was visiting campus with his son, a
prospective freshman. "I saw all these people. Only when
I got here I saw people running butt naked."
Others agreed that the run is a more harmless tradition
than some say.
"I would hope (the police) have got better things to
do than arresting students," said a 1958 University alum
and Ann Arbor resident. " If anyone here was going to be
offended they'd go someplace else. We do have real crime
problems in Ann Arbor, and this isn't one of them."
(C) 2000 Michigan Daily via U-WIRE
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