• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

As participation grows in the Undie Run, an event which takes place each quarter on Wednesday night of finals week, concerns over issues of safety and property damage from university and law enforcement officials are increasing.

At the end of every quarter for the last three years, hundreds of students have lined up on the streets of Westwood Village to relieve their stress and tensions caused by studying for finals in what is known as the “Undie Run.” While most students dress in their underwear, some students show up in funky costumes like chicken suits. Before the run, participants chant “Undie Run” and then run from the corner of Landfair Avenue and Gayley Avenue to Glenrock Avenue and Levering Avenue, and then run back down the same street.

Though the quarterly Undie Run has no official university sponsorship, university administrators and student leaders may work together in the future to discuss the event.

As of now, campus administrators’ attitudes toward the Undie Run have not changed since last spring as students – and the UCPD – get ready for the event this Wednesday night.

Maintaining the health and safety of students are the main university concerns regarding the Undie Run, said Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero.

“This is an event that in one way or another has the potential to put students at some risk,” Montero said.

Joe Vardner, Facilities commissioner for the Undergraduate Students Association Council, said Undie Run needs to be more controlled than in the past. Though Vardner is in favor of more regulation and organization of the event, he is still a strong proponent of the event.

“There has to be some way for students to relieve stress, and no one can think of a more calming activity,” Vardner said.

Vardner is in charge of a committee whose purpose is to improve the Undie Run, and said he wants the Undie Run to be a fun and safe event.

The committee will be composed of representatives from various campus groups, such as the Student Alumni Association and the Interfraternity Council, and will meet sometime next quarter, Vardner said.

Vardner plans to bring several ideas to the committee, including blocking off parts of streets and having on-site emergency medical technicians. Vardner said during the Beat ‘SC Parade two weeks ago Gayley Avenue was partially shut down, and Vardner questioned whether the same could be done for Undie Run.

UCPD will be at the event in full force to ensure the safety, said Nancy Greenstein, director of Police Community Services.

“We’ll be out on the streets; there will be law enforcement in the area,” Greenstein said.

Greenstein said the Undie Run is an unorganized event that has grown so large that it has become a safety hazard in the area.

“Anything can happen with that big (of) a crowd,” Greenstein said.

When crowds of people, many of whom have been drinking, run through the streets as cars are pulling in and out of parking spots, the risk-level of the event grows, Greenstein said.

Last quarter, misty weather and wet streets caused students to slip and fall and suffer cuts and abrasions, Greenstein said.

Greenstein stressed the utmost importance is safety, though she said there is also a potential for property damage.

Last quarter, participants walked over cars and there were serious cases of vandalism, Greenstein said. From noise complaints to blocking traffic, Greenstein cited a number of laws that have been broken in previous Undie Runs and have the potential to be broken in upcoming Undie Run.

UCPD has concurrent jurisdiction, which means it shares jurisdiction with the LAPD over the area where the Undie Run takes place, Greenstein said.

Despite concerns regarding the Undie Run, students feel it is an entertaining tradition that should be kept.

“I think it’s fun, and it’s a good break from studying. I think more people should do it,” said Allison Rossi, a second-year undeclared student, who has participated in the Undie Run in the past and plans to do it again this Wednesday night.