About 30 GW students ran through the streets of the District in their underwear Saturday night in celebration of the last day of classes, and as a stress reliever for upcoming finals.
Junior Chelsea Cramer said she organized GW’s first annual “Fundie Undie Run” mostly on Facebook. She said she hoped the event would be a way to boost school spirit on campus.
“It’s kind of like the snowball fight,” Cramer said. “GW doesn’t have very much school spirit and I’m sure everyone on campus is well aware of that. This is a tradition at so many schools across the country and I figured it’d be something fun.”
The participants gathered in Kogan Plaza and ran through University Yard, down F Street and to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Most of the students turned back at that point, but a small group attempted to run past the White House.Heightened security due to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner prevented the students from going any further, but Cramer said the event was still a success.
Cramer collected clothing to be donated to a women and children’s organization based in Bethesda, Md. At the end of the run, about half of the students gave at least one article of clothing.
Junior Konrad Kopczynski said he hoped GW students would hold more events like the underwear run to increase school spirit.
“It was stress relief. It was fun,” Kopczynski said. “Running in your underwear is always fun. And we raised a little bit of clothes for charity. It’s all for charity.”
Sophomore Margaret Walrod said the event was a good way to take a break from studying to let loose and have fun.
“I try to do one badass thing a week,” Walrod said. “This would be my thing. Otherwise, I’d be in my room working on take homes for the rest of the week.”