NQR -- A Catholic Perspective

For anyone who has visited the Vatican Museum in Rome, you know that you cannot go through that museum without seeing the naked statues and the paintings with naked people in them. People look at these works of art and admire the artist and the artistic techniques used.

Yes, there are those who look and laugh. I think you see where I am going with this. The tradition of running naked through the quad here at Tufts in and of itself is not a dilemma. What I see at issue here is the motivation of those gathered to watch the NQR and those who will participate in the NQR. Some will be there because for them it will be something fun and traditional. Others will be there as an excuse to drink in excess or drug to excess thus acting in inappropriate and unsafe ways. Still others will be there only to leer and disrespect those around them.

Usually this event ends up attracting non-Tufts individuals as well. A body should be respected. With excess drinking or drugs, that respect can go by the wayside, as does remaining within appropriate safety boundaries. If you will be running, make sure you can respect yourself -- do not do anything which you will have regrets about later. In an ideal world, everyone should respect those around them, and this includes standing up against any inappropriate behavior. Even though we are not in an ideal world, change starts with each one of us.

This is my second year at Tufts and students tell me this is a Tufts tradition and one of the strongest community bonding activities. I think the administration is concerned primarily about student safety, not about doing away with the tradition. The Winter Carnival added to the NQR could be a positive addition. What Dean Reitman said in the Tufts Daily ("A winter carnival will be added to Naked Quad Run," Nov. 18) is on target: "The student community has to rise to the occasion to make the event something that can continue."

Ms. Ann Penick is the Associate Catholic Chaplain at Tufts