The (Other) Truth

The Naked Quad Run (or “NQR”), a tradition at Tufts that consists of students sprinting naked through a snowy campus, is utterly ridiculous. Its end has been a long time coming and allowing it to continue would be indefensible. Or would it?

Running naked across campus is certainly objectionable, although baring it all for the world to see is hardly unique to the NQR. Streaking has a long history across campuses all over the country. And, though admittedly streaking is usually a solitary activity, naked winter runs, or just barely clothed ones, aren’t difficult to find either. Every year in December the Boston Globe carries pictures from a popular “Santa Speedo Run” that goes on in the Back Bay. And neither is drinking and running a novel combination—the Ras na hEireann, a 5k which took place only recently starting in Davis Square, included no less than 14 bars as sponsors, advertised post-race craic, and included a map to allow runners to easily get to the bars after the race.

An important difference between these sanctioned 5ks and the NQR, of course, is that they don’t encourage underage drinking. Sadly, as President Bacow himself will tell you, too much underage and binge drinking occurs at Tufts. The same is true in campuses across the country. For too many young people college is filled with weekend after weekend that they can’t remember. Although most students will grow out of this pattern, for some it will lead to lifelong dependency, potentially serious health effects, and, for a few, even to death. But ending the NQR won’t address these problems. Tufts students will continue to drink.

All of this isn’t to say the NQR isn’t ridiculous. It certainly is. But it is too easy for people outside the Tufts community to scoff and roll their eyes. The fact of the matter is that the ridiculousness is exactly what the thing is about. Regardless of what anyone else thinks, many Tufts students found the NQR to be an invaluable opportunity to blow off steam, bond as fellow Jumbos, and to create valuable college memories. While we all might prefer if Tufts students spent their free time working in soup kitchens (and many Tufts students do), it just isn’t going to happen.

The real question is what the Tufts student body will choose to replace the NQR with. I’m sure many students will feel betrayed by having a long running tradition unilaterally ended by a President who already has one foot out the door. But it could be an opportunity to do some good, and possibly some good for the larger community. The NQR isn’t Tufts only running tradition, after all. Every year Tufts sends two hundred runners to the Boston Marathon and raises large sums for scientific research. On April 10th of this year, Tufts will also host a 5K to raise money for a youth village in Rwanda. Given that the NQR began as a way to protest coed housing on campus, it might be possible to have a FCQR (Fully Clothed Quad Run) to raise money for a local women’s charity or scholarship. Surely something productive can come from the end of the NQR.

In other words, if the NQR has been a source of tension between Tufts and the surrounding community in the past it’s that much more important to think constructively about what can be done now that it’s finished. Failing to do so would be more indefensible than the NQR was in the first place.