It’s about time we treated the Undie Run as adults.

Because they cannot ensure the safety of thousands of half-naked and most likely intoxicated revelers, college administrators are discouraging students from participating in the Undie Run and the after-parties that follow.

Not only has Chapman discontinued on-campus parties after last year’s failed attempt to harness what it viewed as over-the-top partying that attracted the wrath of Old Towne, it is also coming down hard on those who throw disruptive parties off campus. For one night only, those caught disrupting Orange residents will be slapped with probation, instead of a warning, for first time offenses.

While we disagree with this over-reaching to appease the city our University must play nice with, we cannot blame Chapman officials from disavowing an unsanctioned student event. They tried to keep us safe from ourselves, and they failed, largely because we insist on being idiots and entrusting our well-being to others.

A large degree of responsibility falls on Chapman for keeping us safe. It has tried to go along with this unsanctioned event, but all that’s happened in the past suggests it is no longer viable for them to do so. In recent years, we’ve cracked an antique fountain, stalled traffic to the chagrin of residents and the delight of perverts and have gotten so drunk in our bras and briefs that we’ve become a nuisance.

Undie Run is a wonderful, unifying tradition, a fun stress releaser in the middle of brain-crunching finals week. Admittedly, it attracts unwanted boneheads – off-campus perverts sneaking in and around a mass of scantily-clad co-eds, sexual assaults and waking up to a slobbering, puke-stained morning of blacked-out bad decisions.

But it doesn’t mean we cannot party safely.

We should always be aware of what we drink, who we’re with and what we’re doing. Being barely-clothed in public is bad enough. Common sense dictates that we shouldn’t add to that by drinking to oblivion. A certain level of cynicism may help. Think of it as, “What would others do to those who have passed out?” Strangers have no problems taking that candy.

Please. If we want to streak through Glassell Street, let’s grow up a bit.


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