Undie Run draws 10,000 students, but university police still concerned about continuing event
By Melissa Joffe
June 13, 2009 12:33 a.m.
An estimated 10,000 students ran from the tunnel on Strathmore Drive and Gayley Avenue to the campus Intramural Field at UCLA’s quarterly tradition Undie Run on Wednesday night, according to university police.
“It appeared that there was a lot more alcohol abuse this year, and we remain concerned about the number of individuals who aren’t UCLA-affiliated,” said Nancy Greenstein, director of community services for university police.
Greenstein said that more than 15 emergency medical service calls were made, and six transports were conducted for alcohol poisoning. The Los Angeles Fire Department also responded to calls.
Because of fights that broke out during last quarter’s run, university police watched the crowd on the Intramural Field from checkpoints above the field and made two arrests for fighting. Greenstein said that the Intramural Field was more crowded than usual, full of students blasting music and some wearing costumes.
University officials regularly express concern about non-UCLA students attending the festivities.
Undie Run regularly draws students from other universities around the area, said Cat Neal, a third-year Mount St. Mary’s student.
“I’m not even from UCLA, but I get to de-stress after my finals,” Neal said.
UCLA officials have worked with students to change the course in order to reduce damage to the campus and to protect students, Greenstein said.
“The new course has really eliminated problems from people tripping and falling on the steps that lead to Powell library,” Greenstein said.
But the fate of the run remains unclear.
The number of non-UCLA students has increased this quarter, and most of the serious incidents involved non-UCLA affiliates, Greenstein said, adding that a UCLA student’s red car parked on Strathmore between Landfair and Gayley was seriously damaged.
But students maintain that the tradition is important.
For some students, the iconic run is a way to de-stress after finals, according to Brittany Buckalew, a fourth-year English student.
“It’s a great way to unwind,” Buckalew said. “I just finished finals today.”
