The “Naked Mile ” was an infamous tradition at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where students walked naked across campus on the last day of classes of the spring semester. The event peaked in the 1990s, but was discontinued in the early 2000s. Here is a historical context:

Origins and evolution

• First event: the first run, held in 1986, involved about 30 male athletes from UMich’s lacrosse and rowing teams.
• Initiators: There are no clearly named founders. However, the tradition seems to have emerged spontaneously from the student movement, which was characterized by a combination of protest culture, end-of-semester celebrations and youthful fun.
• Greek Life: Although members of Greek Life (fraternities and sororities) certainly participated, the Naked Mile was not an event officially initiated by them. Rather, it was an informal tradition supported by the general student community.

Highlights of the tradition

In the 1990s, the Naked Mile attracted hundreds of participants and often thousands of spectators, including many outsiders. It became a symbol of the transition from university to summer vacation, accompanied by an atmosphere of freedom, fun and exhibitionism.

Pure nudity was the norm

• Most participants ran completely naked, making it a spectacular and controversial event.
• Some used minimal body adornment, such as painted body parts, or accessories such as masks to partially “disguise” themselves or remain anonymous.

Exceptions and developments

• Shy participants: Some students chose to participate in underwear, swimsuits or light clothing, especially in the later years when the tradition came under increasing scrutiny.
• Masking and creativity: From the 1990s onwards, many participants wore masks or costumes to disguise their identity. This was partly out of shame and partly out of fear of later identification (especially in the era of internet videos).

Why the emphasis on nudity?

The tradition emphasized a kind of freedom and rebellion that was typical of college culture. The focus on nudity was central because it broke a public taboo – a form of collective fun and a “don’t care what others think” feeling.

Transition to the underwear run?

After 2001, when the police and the university stepped up their crackdown on the Naked Mile, the event changed:

• Some smaller follow-up events were more like underwear runs, as the risk of prosecution from full nudity became too great.
• The original element of “being naked” thus lost its meaning, which contributed to the final end of the tradition.

Controversies and the end

• Role of the internet: The spread of camera technology and the advent of the internet had a decisive influence on the end of the Naked Mile. Many runners were filmed without their consent and the videos ended up on relevant websites, often with voyeuristic or pornographic intentions.
• Police intervention: From around 2000, the police increased their presence. After a group of Livonia residents sent a letter of complaint to Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, the AAPD (Ann Arbor Police Department) announced that they would be making arrests for public nuisance and increasing police presence. 2000 was the first year that the AAPD arrested several students for public nuisance, which is considered criminal sexual conduct. Individuals charged with sexual battery may be required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry. This led to a drop in the number of participants.
• Last official run: The Naked Mile was last held on a large scale in 2001. After that, there were sporadic attempts to continue the tradition, but on a much smaller scale.

Summary

The Naked Mile reflected changing cultural and technological realities. What began as an innocent celebration ended in an era of mass surveillance and the proliferation of personal data. Increasing pressure from the internet and law enforcement eventually brought this unique tradition to an end.
While participants initially ran almost exclusively naked, this became less uniform over the years. The combination of increasing scrutiny, security concerns and criminal consequences eventually led to the run becoming more of a symbolic version of its original self – before eventually disappearing altogether.