Today is the night of the Naked Quad Run at Tufts. I would like to offer some points for consideration for the formation of one's conscience in the decision to participate.
First, there is no written documentation concerning the NQR. Russell E. Miller's two-volume history of Tufts, "Light on the Hill," does not give it any attention. Sol Gittleman's book, "An Entrepreneurial University, The Transformation of Tufts 1976-2002," does not mention the NQR. Older issues of "The Pachyderm" state: "We can't talk about it!" Thus, we are left with living tradition and oral history.
Most people of a certain age would recount that the NQR first began as a protest against women being admitted to Tufts College/Jackson College. But, over the course of many years this, protest against women has been eliminated. The more modern history of the NQR has been more of a release from the pressures of finals.
As university chaplain, I am all for the upholding of Jumbo traditions. But I am even more in favor of protecting the health and safety of all students, all the time. Since 1998, I have had the very hard task of calling and helping parents deal with sudden death or accident concerning their daughter or son. I do not want to make those calls a regular part of my job description. There have been serious cases of alcohol poisoning in the past.
Moderation in drinking alcohol is very important. The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts need to be followed at all times. These laws also apply to all Tufts students. A student should never put one's self in the position of not being in control of one's own senses.
As a professor in the comparative religion department, one of my course offerings is "World Religions & Sexual Ethics." I do not see anything sexual about the NQR for those who participate. Once the outside temperature dips below 60 degrees, blood flow is needed elsewhere in the body. The human body should always be seen as the gift of God's creation. Look at the statue of Michelangelo's "David": The sculpture upholds the human body as something glorious.
On the opposite extreme is the entire pornography industry. The pornography industry reduces the human body to the level of domination, conquest and lust. It is especially degrading towards women. The NQR could be used and turned into porn with simple computer equipment that is widely available, making all participants into objects and devaluing one's personhood.
There is a brand new point of consideration this year regarding the NQR and YouTube.com. Last year, YouTube did not exist. The use of cell phones with cameras and the ability to stream live video has grown tremendously since last December. We have all seen the very sad pictures of acts of aggression being perpetuated on people streamed live on the Web taken from people's own cell phones. With large companies releasing their human services reps to search the Web for information on potential new hires, participating in the NQR needs to be carefully weighed. A brief few moments of college fun can now have a lifetime of play on YouTube with potential employers seeing the event repeatedly.
I would ask and pray that all students treat each other with dignity and respect.
I would ask that all students treat the many staff, administrators and Tufts Police who have to work the NQR, with full dignity and respect. Just because one is naked does not give anyone the right to harass staff, administrators or Tufts Police.
The NQR started out as a protest. It has now grown into something very different. Alcohol poisoning, tripping students, verbal harassment of students, staff and police are not part of being a member of the Tufts University family. The new wide use of cell phones with pod-casting abilities and YouTube all need to be considered. One moment of college fun can now haunt you for a lifetime. Please consider all these points before you go to the NQR.
Play nice.
Pax et Lux to all.
Reverend David O'Leary is the Tufts University Chaplain.
