Naked Mile faces potential crackdown

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

April is a time of activity in Ann Arbor. The snow is gone, students finish winter semester and on the last day of class, hundreds of students streak across campus, wearing nothing but running shoes and a smile.

Although the Naked Mile isn't scheduled to take place until April 14, there are discussions already taking place on how to control the event. The student tradition started in 1986 as a prank played by members of the crew team.

A letter of concern sent to Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm by a Livonia man has prompted questions about how law enforcement officials should deal with the run. In the past, the only purpose of police at the event has been to manage the crowd of spectators, which last year was estimated to be between 8,000 to 10,000 people. Somewhere between 400 to 800 actually stripped down and participated in the run, which begins at the Rock and ends in Regents Plaza.

Granholm's office got in touch with Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie after receiving the letter. "We are fully satisfied that local law officials are taking necessary steps," Granholm's spokesman Chris DeWitt said.

Mackie has discussed concerns with the Ann Arbor Police Department, and characterized the run as something to be cautious about.

"There's a certain danger, of course. We've had people hit by a car, there's the problem of groping - and imagine applying to a job with an indecent exposure conviction," Mackie said.

Indecent exposure is considered a misdemeanor sex offense. The list of sex offenders is public information throughout the nation.

But there have never been citations given for anything other than alcohol violations at the event, according to the Ann Arbor Police Department.

During the past few years, large crowds and the use of video cameras by spectators have become concerns for Naked Mile participants. The threat of possible sexual assaults and the participation of local high school students have also heightened police awareness of the annual event.

"As it's grown and gotten more dangerous, the police may react differently," Mackie said. "There's a number of difficulties no matter what course they take. Public safety has to be their number one concern."

The letter that started the recent controversy was sent to Granholm's office last April by Ralph Bolz, a Livonia resident and member of a group of 15 people who write letters to local and state officials on various concerns. Bolz has never participated in or been to the run.

"I'm just a taxpayer expressing my opinion," he said. His letter cited safety concerns for the runners and also stated "aren't the laws on the books meant to apply to all; young as well as older people; college students as well as the general public?"

"It's not like people are going around an elementary school naked," said Katie McLaughlin, an LSA junior who ran the mile last year and plans on participating this April. "It's kind of a fun college prank."

McLaughlin said she was aware of the possible penalties.

"If they were serious about enforcing it, I wouldn't run," she said.

"I don't think anything they do should affect the people running it. I think they should step up security for the runners," she said.

"I don't think it's harmless, violating the law," Bolz said.

Neither does the AAPD.

"At this point, as far as preparation for the Naked Mile, we are in the planning process," said Larry Jerue, the patrol division chief for the AAPD. He said that last year the mile prompted the Department of Public Safety and AAPD to put 25 extra officers on patrol.

"There is no definite plan yet," he said.

Jerue also answered the plea that the mile is a harmless college prank. "I went to college too, but we have to explore other options." He said the police department plans on meeting with University officials before the event.

Historically, the University has discouraged students from running the mile, but has never done anything to stop it.

In the end, Mackie gave the simplest advice on the matter. "Don't run," he said.

was estimated to be between 8,000 to 10,000 people. Somewhere between 400 to 800 actually stripped down and participated in the run, which begins at the Rock and ends in Regents Plaza.

Granholm's office got in touch with Washtenaw County Prosecutor Brian Mackie after receiving the letter. "We are fully satisfied that local law officials are taking necessary steps," Granholm's spokesman Chris DeWitt said.

Mackie has discussed concerns with the Ann Arbor Police Department, and characterized the run as something to be cautious about.

"There's a certain danger, of course. We've had people hit by a car, there's the problem of groping - and imagine applying to a job with an indecent exposure conviction,"Mackie said.

Indecent exposure is considered a misdemeanor sex offense. The list of sex offenders is public information throughout the nation.

But there have never been citations given for anything other than alcohol violations at the event, according to the AAPD.

During the past few years, large crowds and the use of video cameras by spectators have become concerns for Naked Mile participants. The threat of possible sexual assaults and the participation of local high school students have also heightened police awareness of the annual event.

"As it's grown and gotten more dangerous, the police may react differently," Mackie said. "There's a number of difficulties no matter what course they take. Public safety has to be their number one concern."

The letter that started the recent controversy was sent to Granholm's office last April by Ralph Bolz, a Livonia resident and member of a group of 15 people who write letters to local and state officials on various concerns. Bolz has never participated in or been to the run.

"I'm just a taxpayer expressing my opinion," he said. His letter cited safety concerns for the runners and also stated "aren't the laws on the books meant to apply to all; young as well as older people; college students as well as the general public?"

"It's not like people are going around an elementary school naked," said Katie McLaughlin, an LSA junior who ran the mile last year and plans on participating this April. "It's kind of a fun college prank."

McLaughlin said she was aware of the possible penalties.

"If they were serious about enforcing it, I wouldn't run," she said.

"I don't think anything they do should affect the people running it. I think they should step up security for the runners," she said.

"I don't think it's harmless, violating the law," Bolz said.

Neither does the AAPD.

"At this point, as far as preparation for the Naked Mile, we are in the planning process," said Larry Jerue, the patrol division chief for the AAPD. He said that last year the mile prompted the Department of Public Safety and AAPD to put 25 extra officers on patrol.

"There is no definite plan yet," he said.

Jerue also answered to the plea that the mile is a harmless college prank. "I went to college too, but we have to explore other options." He said the police department plans on meeting with University officials before the event.

Historically, the University has discouraged students from running the mile, but has never done anything to stop it.

In the end, Mackie gave the simplest advice on the matter. "Don't run," he said.