It was 1974, the spring term of my junior year in college, and my boyfriend of two years, Bob, had just broken up with me during the winter. I was still hurting from that experience, but I had a support group of loving friends and was starting to feel good again. The arrival of spring certainly didn't hurt any in that respect. Traditionally, of course, college students have always gone a little wild with the emergence of spring and this behavior is intensified tenfold at schools like MSU where the winters are long, very cold, and generally sunless. In March of 1974, a man had famously streaked the Oscars and the phenomenon was starting to catch on at college campuses throughout the country.
One warm spring evening, the dorm cafeteria was abuzz with rumors that streaking would happen in our courtyard that night. A feeling of excitement and expectation was in the air. After dinner my roommate and I, ready to take in the spectacle, planted ourselves in the study room window of our floor, which overlooked the courtyard. We weren't the only ones with the same idea. Many of the windows in the 3-sided horseshoe of the six-floor dorm were open and populated with curious students. Sure enough, we weren't to be disappointed. Several guys streaked through the courtyard at various times, resplendent in their nakedness. In the midst of the madness, we heard a plaintive male voice ask, "Where are the women?"
It almost seemed like a dare. Sue looked at me and I looked at her. Should we? Just then our friend Shannon entered the study room. "I've been looking for you," she declared, eyes sparkling. "Jeannie and I want to streak; are you up for it? You two were the only ones we could think of who might do it with us." It took only a minute to agree. There was a definite feeling of safety in numbers, and it seemed easier to pull off the stunt with four of us participating. We decided to go right after dark, when we might not be recognized as easily. Our plan was to emerge from a side doorway, run out and circle the tree at the center of the courtyard, then run back again to the same doorway. Our friend Berta declined the invitation to join us, but she was very willing to serve as our official robe-holder while we ran. The scheme was hatched.
We gathered at the appointed hour, dropped our robes, and took off running. I remember hearing plenty of hooting and hollering from the dorm windows. What we didn't think about was the direction in which we'd circle the tree. As I wildly ran counterclockwise, I almost ran smack into a naked, flopping Jeannie who was running clockwise. We were all laughing hysterically as we scampered back to the safety of our robes and returned to our post in the study room. We were curious to hear how our escapade had been received. Our friend Paul was perched in a study room window above us. "Hey," he called out to us, "Did ya see those women who just streaked?" We couldn't help ourselves. "That was us!" we hollered back. "B.S.!" was his skeptical reply, and with that our entire study room erupted in laughter.
Apparently, the identity of the four streaking women spread through the dorm like wildfire. The following evening as I was sitting in the cafeteria with my friends, my ex came walking up to me. Eyes blazing, he leaned down and quietly spoke into my ear, "The guys on my floor all saw you last night. Hope you're proud of yourself!" I guess it was his intention to embarrass me and convey his apparent loss of respect. On the inside, I have to admit I was somewhat crushed. I still had feelings for him and his opinion did matter to me. But at the same time I couldn't believe he was judging me. He certainly wouldn't have approached the other three women with the same comment; what made him think he had the right to treat me that way? I can't remember anymore how I responded. I think I just laughed and shrugged in what I hoped was a dismissive manner.
Later we heard a rumor that Playboy magazine was trying to find out who the streaking women were in order to interview us. We were never able to confirm if that was really true or not. But Bob's snide comment aside, I still have to chuckle at the memory of that wild night and the adventurous, somewhat exhibitionistic spirit of the four crazy co-eds that we were!
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