First Rain
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First Rain is an annual event held at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) beginning at Porter College. It is also known as Naked Run and Porter Run. During the first rainfall of the school year, students run naked through the campus, starting at Porter College at 10:10pm, stopping in each college and gathering more runners, before returning to Porter for a drum circle. To be considered "first rain", it must have been raining from at least 6:00pm-10:00pm.
The Fall 2006 First Rain event was held in the evening of October 4, 2006, when an estimated 500-600 students streaked through the rain showers around 8:45 pm. A university spokesperson indicated that no rules were broken because UCSC considers running naked on campus tradition.[citation needed]
The Fall 2007 First Rain event was held on October 9th, just before midnight. The fact that it started so late, before upperclassmen could properly mobilize, has created rumors that there will be a second, "official" naked run. Throughout the first Quarter, there has not been an "Official" First Rain as a make up.
[edit] History
First Rain started in fall of 1989, following the weeks of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Students, afraid to sleep inside the Porter College dorms, would sleep outside in the quad. Upon developing an outside lifestyle of playing small games like Simon Says, students dared each other to strip and run around campus naked.[1] Aiming to make this event a yearly tradition as it is at other universities, the students decided on running during the first rain of every school year (since other events, like the first school day or first snow had already been taken by other universities).[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Hendrickson, Wayne (1998). Don't Tell the Parents!: a delightful narrative of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll in today's colleges. Mount Hermon, California: Hearth & Home Productions, 103-106.
- ^ Hendrickson, Wayne. "Story Time With Wayne" Fireside Lounge, Porter College, UCSC (5/16/2007).
