Times Past - Streaking in Athens

#ThisDayInAthensGAHistory: 52 years ago today on March 7th, 1974, University of Georgia students broke the national record for the biggest mass streaking in history. UGA students devised a plan to organize a mass streak after news broke out that the University of South Carolina set a new record with over 500 streakers. At around 11pm, 1543 UGA students gathered at Myers Quad on campus and an organizer with a megaphone ordered everyone to “drop drawers” and run nude down Sanford Drive past the stadium, up into Reed Quad.

Nearly 15,000 other (clothed) Athenians lined the route down Sandford Drive with lawn chairs and beer coolers to spectate the truly unique event. The course ran about three quarters of a mile and caused such a ruckus that then-Gubernatorial Candidate Lester Maddox had to end his campaign rally on campus early due to streakers interrupting his speech. There were even reports of UGA students who parachuted nude onto the intramural fields and others who climbed the roofs of Reed and Payne Hall, dancing naked in front of the crowds.