Police threats result in smaller turnout at Naked Mile

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

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."

-Daily News Editor Hanna LoPatin contributed to this article.