NEWS
Wednesday, June 5,1996 -- The MichiganDaily - 3
Footage of Naked Mile to air on public access cable channel
y Erena Baybik
aily Staff Reporter
Those who missed the Naked Mile when it
ecurred on April 23 now have another opportuni-
to watch it on the Community Television
etwork, cable Channel 9, any day this week.
iring of the program has been daily since Sunday.
Richard Naden, an Ann Arbor resident, submit-
home video of the run to the public access
annel, which agrees to show any program sub-
itted by an Ann Arbor resident. Channel 9 does
ot censor or preview any of the programs it airs.
Naden said he submitted the video because he
'anted to present material with "redeeming social
alue" and because he wanted to foster under-
:anding.
"(The program) is more human. Nobody was
urt. Everybody had a good time. There was no
iolence," Naden said.
"1 think they should do (the run) three times a
year at least. It's the happiest time I see in Ann
Arbor," Naden said.
Naden said he covered the run as a news event,
although he said he heard the unedited version
dubbed as "entertainment."
Naden said Channel 9 has aired three or four of
his other programs. He said he picked the run to
film because, "it's there and (Channel 9) goes into
63,000 households in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti."
"Anyone can submit whatever they want to
show, as long as there are no commercials, no vio-
lation of federal, state or local laws and no solicit-
ing for funding," said Lucy Ann Visovatti, program
manager for the station. "We make no judgments
of the presenters' programs."
Naden said he did very little editing to the tape.
He said he created only four or five blackouts
where "somebody's organs" would otherwise have
appeared.
Visovatti said that the First Amendment allows
anyone to express their thoughts and viewpoints,
and Channel 9 tries to reinforce this concept.
Nonetheless, some people are still worried
about the participants' right to privacy. "The run-
ners were in public and it was a public event. But
there's also children watching these channels and
I'm sure that people don't want their (naked) bod-
ies being shown all over the television," said LSA
senior Andrea Porter.
Lieutenant Pam Whess of the Ann Arbor Police
Department said that anything in the public venue
could be shown on television as long as the chan-
nel's guidelines allow it.
Whess said the Ann Arbor Police Department is
working to eliminate the Naked Mile entirely and
this is the type of evidence it could use to reinforce
its argument.
"Maybe people will look and say, 'How can
this be happening in our community?"' Whess
said.
Naden said he was not seeking to portray a cer-
tain message about the run when he filmed it.
"Whatever message you can see, that's what was
there," he said.
Katie Weed, an LSA sophomore, said that if she
knew this would be broadcast on television she
would not have participated in it.
"I don't think it's fair - if you run it you know
people are gonna see you - but not on television
all week," Weed said.
Visovatti said the Naked Mile was first televised
Sunday and Will air five more times this week.
"Anyone who misses it can request additional
replays and we try to do our best to schedule that
in for them,"Visovatti said.
Porter said the airing of the run on television
does not bother her. "People are gonna do what
they want to, especially in Ann Arbor.".
- Daily Mananging News Editor Jennifer
Harvey contributed to this report.
h ousands rally in nation's
apia to show support,
Stand for Children'
Jodi S. Cohen Although Robinson said the demon-
Staff Reporter stration was inspiring, she cautioned
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Katherine against putting too much faith in the
araway, a resident of Ann Arbor, trav- activist spirit that pervaded the green
led more than 600 miles last Saturday lawns.
o join an estimated 200,000 parents, "I think these things can tend to get
eachers, activists, and children here to hokey," said Robinson, who works at
stand for children." Human Rights Watch. "I think there is a
The mass demonstration, which was balance here. There is a balance of hok-
entered at the Lincoln Memorial and iness and practical use." .
pread across the Mall, drew people Robinson said she was impressed by
iverse in age, race, background and the number of children who demon- '
raphic location. strated and sat around listening to the
Faraway and her friend, Johanna speakers.
pstein, were two of about 3,000 peo- "It's fun to see the kids;' she said.
le who traveled from Ann Arbor to "It's inspiring today. But what does it all
how their support for the nation's chil- mean tomorrow?"
ren. The group represented various Keynote speaker and Children's
rganizations, D e f e n s e - oNMiaNCAP/Daily
including the F u n d Family Fun Day
h ldv ers sietyr Our n Chimples the Clown entertained (or frightened) all the children at the Family Housing residents picnic Saturday. The picinic
the Interfaith W r i g h was one of several activities held during "Celebrate Families" week.
oitte for D_ __ d e Ima n
Peace and families! social stressed that
Justice. evye ry nin e
Faraway said and moral values" should work
the last time she to put chil-
demonstrated on - Marian Wright Edelman dren first in
the Mall was dur- CDF President health care, i
ing the Vietnam child care
War. She noted and educa-
that this event's tion. p
crowd was much "We are
Brent from the one in which she was individuals, families ... who hold our-
i nersed years ago. selves personally accountable, but who
"This is more of a celebration - for also hold our leaders personally account- q
children. It's a lot more calm," Faraway able with our voices and our votes,"
said. "I think it's a good turnout." Edelman said during her speech.
Epstein, agreed. "It's a vow to do "Our children need strong fami- cy~
more for them," she said. lies, social and moral values," she
When the thousands of children and said Featuring:
adults erent listenin to the speakers, For LSA senior Paul Smithivas, F
they were enjoying the sunny day and who is interning in Washington this ti
cooling off in the reflecting pool. summer, Saturday's event marked the
ers gathered around the Mall for first time he attended a 'huge
pieics or to lie in the sun. demonstration." : : ( g & :
Shira Robinson, a 1995 University "I've never seen anything like that
graduate who now lives in Washington, before," Smithivas said. "I think it will
was scoping the multitude of booths make a difference, but I did see a lot of 2o7 .s
when she sa, the University's black people who weren't listening, bu h - k h
wad e igin tf grss., were just hanging ut. '
K ,0 Si4