Some mass streaking events at universities enjoyed a surprising longevity. When asked why streaking was so popular, a student at Yale said, “We’re college students and college students are supposed to have fun.” But even before that, students at the University of Notre Dame had organized a “Streaker’s Olympics” in 1972. At Princeton, a student campaigned for vice-president of the class of 1976 with the slogan: “Vote the Streaker-if Elected he will Run.” Some people even streaked in front of the Capitol Building and the White House. At Harvard, two streakers wearing only surgical masks disrupted a first-year anatomy test. Students of all genders eagerly participated. A “streaking epidemic” kicked off in the fall semester of 1973 across colleges in the US. In the 1970s, arguably, the golden age of streaking began. Since then, streakers have invaded university campuses, sports pitches, the Olympics, and even the Oscars. One of the first depictions of streaking is a legend from the thirteenth century: to compel her husband to lower taxes on his subjects, Lady Godiva rode a horse naked through the town of Coventry. It is not known precisely when streaking started. But this was the news, from the Indianapolis News, May 9, 1975: "An unruly crowd inside the first turn 'snake pit' this afternoon" led to the police firing tear gas.Streaking, broadly defined, is running nude or semi-nude in public for entertainment or shock value. There were 130 arrests, "most of them youths charged with under-age drinking, disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana or hashish and public intoxication."Īnd on race day: 86 arrests and at least one police officer injured "when he was thrown to the ground by an infield crowd as he chased a streaker, who escaped." 'Tear Gas At Speedway'įor 1975, the Speedway sought to stem the snake pit debauchery by in effect shrinking the snake pit by turning part of it into a parking lot. The following weekend "helmeted State Police, armed with riot batons and aided by police dogs" patrolled the snake pit. The leaders are the ones that took off their britches." Riot batons and police dogs Dillman, Indiana State Police operations officer: "Pluck out one or two of the leaders and keep the crowds dispersed. That week police viewed film of the melee and came up with a strategy for the following weekend, mapped out by Col. "The troopers had been mingling in the crowd, enjoying the occasional streakers and blanket tossing, but when they ordered youngsters off the chain-link fence at the infield's edge, someone threw a bottle.The young crowd began shouting obscenities, making obscene gestures and raining the police with bottles.police and their vehicles were surrounded.Both police helicopters were put into the air.As soon as police put down trouble at one spot, it would break out somewhere else." "The mood (in the snake pit), which had been joyful, quickly took on an air of ugliness and vulgarity when someone threw a beer bottle at a state trooper. "14 Held in Track Melee, 3 State Troopers Injured" was the headline in the Star the next day. May 11, 1974: Indiana State Troopers, who last year patrolled the snake pit with 18-inch nightsticks, this year opt for 36-inch nightsticks. Race Day, 1973: "One group.took four huge trash drums and threw them over the fence - onto the grassy section between the spectator area and the track." Billy clubs and streakers May 12, 1973: Indianapolis News: "After numerous fights during practice and following the throwing of a beer bottle onto the track yesterday, police stationed 'spies'.They were watching the thousands of fun-loving, beer-drinking young people in the infield area inside the southwest curve called the 'snake pit.'" Four buddies climbed over the infield fence, ran to the creek (and) threw him back into the water and then carried him away holding on to his arms and legs." The spies of the Snake Pit He tried to scramble up the creek bank toward the guards and the track. They threw the guy to the ground and then into the small creek on the infield side of the track. Race Day, 1970: Indianapolis Star: "The race was in its waning minutes when a young fellow, apparently full of false courage from a bottle, attempted to stagger onto the track.
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