Last fall, my friends were disappointed when I showed up to the
Undie Run in athletic warm-ups. I tore them away before the run to
reveal my hard core blue boxers. (I didn’t have the courage
to wear my Scooby-Doo ones.)
In its three years of existence, the run has grown from a few
dozen participants to around 1,000, according to university police
estimates. It’s a fun time, and one of the biggest stress
relievers for pent-up college students.
That’s why I want it to stay. The only catch is that it
can’t stay exactly the way it is now.
With over 1,000 people, a good number of them drunk or high,
there are definitely safety risks.
Luckily, we’ve only seen minor scrapes, bruises, and some
broken windows and dented doors on cars.
But it is a serious concern that someone might get trampled or
worse, especially with the street being open, so many are
suggesting we close off the street.
That is exactly what the Undie Run Committee is being organized
to figure out. Is it possible to close off Landfair Avenue? Or
maybe move to a safer street? Could the event be moved on-campus,
where there are no cars? These are just some of the options that
have been suggested.
The Undie Run is a campus event, and the entire campus should
have a say in what’s going to happen with it.
So e-mail me ideas or, better yet, express interest in joining
the committee. We’re looking for two students to be the
campus voice.
I know a lot of people get worried when an official group is set
up to organize a campus activity that people just do.
But we’re worried that what happened to Black Sunday will
happen to the Undie Run.
I don’t think it will, because Black Sunday was shut down
when over 200 students nearly died at a fraternity party that
developed a gas leak. Party security tried to empty the house, but
no one would listen. One smoker in the wrong place and we would
have had to bury dozens of our friends.
Undie Run is a completely different event and hasn’t
gotten to that level yet.
The purpose of this committee is to make sure it never does, and
that all students can enjoy this event for years to come. I need
you, and this campus needs you, to provide ideas on how to make it
safer.
Vardner is the Undergraduate Students Association Council
Facilities commissioner. He can be contacted at
[email protected].