I'm in the newspaper- NAKED
Chicago Sun Times
Students keep U. of C. tradition's streak alive
January 14, 2006
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter Advertisement
"Hey, I saw you naked!"
University of Chicago student Carl Streed Jr. expects to hear that a lot over the next few days from fellow students he has never met.
Streed was one of about 70 people who streaked across the university's main quad Friday afternoon in boxers, bikinis -- or in several cases, nothing but their gym shoes -- as part of the annual Polar Bear Run.
A campus tradition since 1983, the run caps a weeklong winterfest that the university calls Kuviasungnerk, an Eskimo word for "happy times." Earlier in the week, students also engaged in early-morning yoga sessions, fireside chats with faculty and a dance marathon study break -- all designed to beat the winter blues.
First-year student JONATHAN DEWEESE explained the appeal of the Polar Bear Run this way: "When else are you going to have another chance to run across your campus naked?"
Instead of putting a damper on their fun, Friday's freezing rain only enhanced the experience, runners said.
'I hope nobody falls'
"Besides the obvious cold, it was very liberating," said second-year student and first-time Polar Bear Linda Muzere, who went nude. "[The rain] adds to the outrageousness of it."
The streakers burst out of Harper Memorial Library at 3 p.m., and by 3:05 p.m., most were wrapped up in coats and bathrobes brought by friends.
A crowd of about 150 onlookers lined the route to cheer and take pictures. There was also no shortage of snide remarks.
"I hope nobody falls," one student whispered to his neighbor.
Second-year student Rhitaki Khilnani, who held Muzere's clothes for her while she ran, said, "It's pretty funny seeing all your friends naked. We love our crazy traditions."
Students keep U. of C. tradition's streak alive
January 14, 2006
BY MONIFA THOMAS Staff Reporter Advertisement
"Hey, I saw you naked!"
University of Chicago student Carl Streed Jr. expects to hear that a lot over the next few days from fellow students he has never met.
Streed was one of about 70 people who streaked across the university's main quad Friday afternoon in boxers, bikinis -- or in several cases, nothing but their gym shoes -- as part of the annual Polar Bear Run.
A campus tradition since 1983, the run caps a weeklong winterfest that the university calls Kuviasungnerk, an Eskimo word for "happy times." Earlier in the week, students also engaged in early-morning yoga sessions, fireside chats with faculty and a dance marathon study break -- all designed to beat the winter blues.
First-year student JONATHAN DEWEESE explained the appeal of the Polar Bear Run this way: "When else are you going to have another chance to run across your campus naked?"
Instead of putting a damper on their fun, Friday's freezing rain only enhanced the experience, runners said.
'I hope nobody falls'
"Besides the obvious cold, it was very liberating," said second-year student and first-time Polar Bear Linda Muzere, who went nude. "[The rain] adds to the outrageousness of it."
The streakers burst out of Harper Memorial Library at 3 p.m., and by 3:05 p.m., most were wrapped up in coats and bathrobes brought by friends.
A crowd of about 150 onlookers lined the route to cheer and take pictures. There was also no shortage of snide remarks.
"I hope nobody falls," one student whispered to his neighbor.
Second-year student Rhitaki Khilnani, who held Muzere's clothes for her while she ran, said, "It's pretty funny seeing all your friends naked. We love our crazy traditions."