14 - The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2003
-TRADITIONS-
'U' Officials ignore Naked Mile
By Maria Sprow event's illegality, the danger of sexu- the Naked Mile has run its course.
April 16,2003 al assault and the potential for Although both departments said they
embarrassment for both runners and will increase enforcement on campus
Naked Miles of times past brought the University itself - were not tonight, they also said they are not
students a slew of warnings - in the printed this year. expecting any significant problems.
form of advertisements, promises to Peterson said the University's "We feel we are prepared for any
arrest runners and warnings that national changed approach to the Naked Mile type of contingency that will hap-
media outlets planned to photograph the is the result of two years of "very lit- pen," DPS Lt. Joe Piersante said.
event - from the University and local tle participation" and conversations "We don't have any indication that
police enforcement agencies. with various student group there are going to be problems, but
But this year, officials are taking a "Those efforts to educate and warn we are prepared for just about any-
new preventative approach - ignore students were very effective. From sev- thing that could happen."
it, and it may just go away. eral hundred runners a few years ago, AAPD Sgt. Craig Flocken said that
Unlike in previous years, when we were down to about 50 in 2001 and while the AAPD will be increasing
then-University President Lee less than a dozen, all clothed in under- enforcement, the number of officers seen
Bollinger sent the University com- wear, in 2002. It's our view that stu- around the South University Avenue will
munity c-mails asking students not to dents have gotten the message and not be as many as in the past.
run, students will not receive any understand the dangers of running," Flocken said students who do dis-
form of communication prior to the Peterson said. "We did not believe the robe may be arrested for disorderly
event from President Mary Sue Cole- same level of public education was nec- conduct and indecent exposure,
man, University spokeswoman Julie essary this year." which is punishable by up to one
Peterson said. "We felt the time had come to let the year in prison and a $500 fine. 4
In addition, University-sponsored Naked Mile end on its own," she added. Flocken added that last year, AAPD
ads which previously ran in The Officers from both the Department chose not to cite any students who ran
Michigan Daily giving students rea- of Public Safety and the Ann Arbor in their underwear or covered them-
sons not to run - including the Police Department said they believe selves in some other fashion.
participates in hash bash tradition
An unidentified naked University student wearing only a backpack and
sneakers straddles the cube during the Naked Mile in 1998.
Crowd of thousands
By Ehibet Anderson
April 07, 2003
Hash Bash, the annual Ann Arbor
rally to support the legalization of
marijuana, was in full force Satur-
day afternoon, drawing a crowd that
event organizers estimated reached
3,000 to 4,000 people.
Carrying signs declaring "Hemp for
Peace" and "Smoke pot not Iraq" com-
munity members, University students
and out-of-town participants protested
both the war on drugs and the war on
Iraq at the 32nd annual event.
Traditional festivities included the
rally at noon on the Diag and an after-
party on Monroe Street.
Some participants wore necklaces of
plastic hemp leaves, while others
dressed up in costumes - including a
self-proclaimed "Jointman."
"A lot of people dress up because
they like the anonymity," event organiz-
er Adam Brook said.
Brook, who also served as the master
of ceremonies for the event, said Hash
Bash was well attended despite snow,
although he said warmer temperatures
would have drawn a larger crowd.
"The University can try to stop us,
the city can try to stop us, the federal
government can try to stop us, the
state can try to stop us, but nobody
screws us like Mother Nature,"
Brook, an Ann Arbor resident, said.
This year's event also saw a low num-
ber of arrests for possession of marijua-
na, which Brook said was unlike
previous years."We've taken extraordi-
nary steps to prevent arrests," he added.
Over all, Brook expressed pride
in the force and attendance of Hash
Bash. "This is the largest rally on
campus," he said.
We sell our previously leasea urniture at
a fraction of the retail pri el
341 E. Liberty
(Downtown Ann Arbor)
734-327-4500
Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 10-6
Free parking behind store
Where in the world do
you want to go?
Discover your options at the
STUDY ABROAD FAIR
Wednesday, October 1
Michigan Union Ballroom
3-6 pm
rwpJ
For more information, please contact:
Office of international Programs
G513 Michigan Union
764-4311
www.umich.edu/-iinet/oip
oip@umich.edu