About 125 students bared more than just school spirit when they streaked across campus wearing bikinis, boxers and the occasional thong for the IU Southeast’s first Nearly Naked Mile.
The event was hosted by the Student Alumni Association on Sept. 30.
“We wanted to have an event focusing on students having fun on campus,” Josh Kornberg, communications junior and student president of the SAA, said.
The race took place at 10:30 p.m. and was put on as an effort to increase awareness about the SAA while raising money for student scholarships.
The event generated more than 43 new student members and raised more than $185 for the scholarship fund.
Students had to pay $5 to compete, or they could choose to sign up for the SAA and run for free.
The Nearly Naked Mile has been hosted by other campuses as efforts to raise money for certain causes.
“Bloomington has a Nearly Naked Mile, and their donations go to the United Way, but the money we raise here is to build up the student scholarship fund,” Kornberg said.
During the event, numerous name drawings were held to give out prizes such as T-shirts, cups and socks. Also, the student who was awarded the most creative costume of the night was given a trophy with the inscription of “2010 Nearly Naked Champion” on it and a plaque with the student’s name to be hung in the SAA office.
Kornberg said the SAA had been working on ideas to bring fun activities to campus. They began promoting it through Facebook, YouTube and e-mail.
Erin Carlisle, music performance junior and SAA member, was recruited to be the face of the Nearly Naked Mile.
“Josh called me up and asked me if I wanted to be in a video promoting it, and I said ‘Why not?’” Carlisle said. “It took us about a half-hour to film it, and then we just sent it out to a bunch of different places.”
Being Carlisle’s first year on the SAA, she said she is looking forward to being part of the group.
“I think this is a great way to start out the year for SAA,” Carlisle said. “This event is so different, and it sets the bar for what we want to do and the different things we want to bring to the campus.”
Shane Osborne, pre-pharmacy sophomore, placed first in the costume portion of the event, wearing a purple thong.
“I thought this was a great event and a great turnout,” Osborne said. “We definitely need events like this to get people more involved on campus.”
Osborne said fun events like this are the key to ensuring students are tied to a school.
“Big or small campus, it is important to have events students want to attend and can remember,” Osborne said.
First place in the race portion of the event was Alex Wolf, business management freshman. He said he definitely enjoyed the event and hoped IU Southeast would have more events like this.
Others agreed there should be more events with a fun vibe to them.
“If they do crazier events like these, students will think it is something new or exciting and be more likely to try it out,” Laquitta Maness, psychology and criminal justice senior and SAA member, said.
Jerry Wayne, director of Alumni Affairs, is an IUS alumnus and adviser for the SAA.
“These events create a college atmosphere so there is a connection between the students and this college,” Wayne said.
Wayne said the turnout for the event was a surprise.
“This is just the first one, too,” Wayne said. “Every year, it will get bigger and better.”
Sara Nieves, psychology freshman and a member of Alpha Phi, said she and a few friends from Woodland Lodge were excited about the race.
“It is also a fun way to stay physically active on campus,” Nieves said.
Tyler Jackson, accounting sophomore, came with his friends from Grove Lodge.
Jackson said he only had one complaint about the event.
“For next year, I wish there was less clothing,” he said.
By MORIAH
WHITTAKER
Staff
whittakm@ius.edu