Wednesday, May 3, 1995 - The Michigan Daily- 19
Annual 'Naked Mile' celebrates end of classes
im Lord
aily Staff Reporter
They wore backpacks, capes, towels and viking
hats. A few even carried musical instruments or ra-
dios, but most of the approximately 350 runners wore
nothing but shoes and their birthday suits.
April 18 saw the winter semester's classes come
to an end while the Michigan tradition of the "Naked
Mile" ran on.
Students as well as out-of-towners gathered at the
rock on the corner of Washtenaw and Hill streets,
Where most of them dropped their robes, swimsuits
and, in some cases, underwear.
Many students said they liked the originality of the
Naked Mile.
"I think it's a great thing for the school, gets every-
one together," said David Johnston, an LSA sopho-
more. "I think it's cool they do this stuff, most schools
don't do anything like this. We have Hash Bash and
4I think it's awesome, man. I think everyone should just
be that natural and just that comfortable with themelves."
-John Munson
LSA junior
different things. It makes us a school with a little
personality."
The majority of the runners were male, and par-
ticipating women tended to draw more attention from
the crowd. "Just because women are looked at a little
more than men," said John Munson, an LSA junior.
"Women feel a little more self-conscious, like they've
got to live up to this certain kind of body image."
"It's because they get pinched and stuff," said one
female runner with a student group. "I got pinched
and grabbed and watergunned. Neverrun it."
A few seconds after midnight the runners started
on the mile's winding route around the Diag, to the
comer of East and South University avenues. They
then turned the parade to the Law Quad where they
filed into the Law Library to whistles and cheers of
"Study Session!" from the crowd.
.Runners in various states of undress jumped, ran
or nonchalantly wandered back out of the library to
begin the final leg of the mile.
There, a few leaped at their chance for fame, in-
cluding some unfortunate runners who tripped on the
library steps and one unidentified nude trombone-
player who led the crowd of spectators in chants of
'Go Blue!"
At the end of the route, the runners gathered
around the Cube in Regents' Plaza for a little wind-
ing down. Many of them managed to change into
some clothes there as well.
Most of the runners enjoyed the chance to show
the world what they were made of.
"It's a blast!" said one Kinesiology junior. "I
think it makes our school a little different, it shows
we've got some spirit."
Munson said he ran because he was graduating
this year. "I think it's awesome, man. I think every-
one should just be that natural and just that comfort-'
able with themelves," he said.
The runners weren't the only ones having a good
time. The streets around the Diag and the Michigan
Union area sidewalks were packed with spectators, T-
shirt vendors and officers from the Ann Arbor Police
Department and Department of Public Safety.
Snapple surprises 2
letter-writers in Union
An ecstatic LSA graduate at commencement on Saturday.
GRADUATION
Continued from page 1
bon, children should not have to live and
pray in fear."
Jennifer Fox, an LSA honors graduate,
also spoke to the students. She recalled
many memories the class shared during the
past four years.
As the class cheered, Fox reminded
them of their initial idealism as first-year
students, wanting "to nibble on the magi-
cal Michigan mushroom." The experi-
ences at school that helped students to
learn, mature and develop as individuals
should not be forgotten, Fox said.
"We must not forget that our youthful
visions can transfer to an adult reality,"Fox
said.
Edelman closedby giving advice to the
graduating students. "As you leave (this
University), remember you leave with your
parents' and God's love, and you can make
it! I hope you will reflect anew on why
you're here on God's earth, all you've
given and all you can give," she said.
By- Deborah G. Weinstein
Daily Staff Reporter
You know the commercials. People
write letters, Wendy reads the letters on
television. The author then becomes the
star of a commerical and owner of at least
a case of Snapple.
This time Snapple surprised Univer-
sity students Brian Speigel and Tanya
Rhodes at the Michigan Union by bring-
ing 20 cases of Snapple and a banner that
read, "Dear Tanya and Brian, thank you
for your letter, love Snapple." Rhodes was
unable to be present.
Although Snapple chose not to film
the event for a commercial, Spiegel said he
was surprised at the party. "I was sup-
posed to meet a friend here. This is kind of
crazy," he said.
"I really like Snapple and was kind
of testing out the commercials. I thought
they were all made up. My friends were
like, no way man, never (will Snapple do
something like a commercial or a party
for you). They sent me a coupon a week
after I sent the letter. I thought that was it.,
I'm hooked now. Every Fortune 500
company I'm going to write."
Speigel posed for pictures wearing his
new watch and Mango Madness T-shirt.
He had requested a keg of Mango Madness
for a party he wanted to throw next fall.
Unable to grant his wish, Snapple gave
Speigel a case of Mango Madness instead.
LSA sophomore Ernie Querijel
helped keep the Snapple visit a surprise.
"I've known for about four or five days.
Brian's mother got in touch with me and
told me about it," he said.
Over 60 students jammed into the
basement of the Union to get free T-shirts,
water bottles and, of course, Snapple.
"Where's Wendy?" shouted a student
from the crowd.
"She's going to a prom," said one of
the Snapple representatives.
Wendy's prom visit is the result ofa
letter from a student who "wall-papered
their room with Snapple labels," said a
Snapple representative.
Although Snapple claims that the
commercials are about real people, there
are still some disbelievers.
LSA senior Marc Memer said he
doubted the commercials. "I didn't think it
was for real. I guess it is."
Snapple's consumer-inspired ad car
paign started in 1992. Wendy, Snapple's
secretary, created the campaign by an-
swering letters. As a result, she became a
celebrity.
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