Chi Phi Pledges Show Some Skin in ECO 101

Well hello, Chi Phi Class of 2013. We see you. All of you.Or at least ECO 101 does, along with the countless non-Econ students who decided to join lecture today to watch Chi Phi’s pledges run through the aisles wearing nothing but Santa hats (it is, after all, the holiday season).And hey, it’s no wonder that professors practically encourage this yearly freshman streak. How often do so many students actually roll out of bed in time for their 11 a.m. lecture, especially the last one before break? And how often is a professor presented with a gift borne by a herd of naked young men in Santa hats? In fact, it’s a wonder every professor on campus hasn’t petitioned President Tilghman to initiate a task force that would make in-class streaking an everyday affair.And so, at 11:27 this morning, a Chi Phi pledge walked into McCosh 50, stereo in hand, climbed onto the stage, greeted Professor Bogan, and began blaring “Last Christmas,” while asking an audience that surely hasn’t been as interested in months, “Do you know what time it is?”They clearly all did, for iPhones and cameras were immediately whipped out of bags and pockets as the object of the students’ attention began a strip-tease. Then, six or seven of his fellow pledges ran into the lecture hall, stark naked save for their hats. They made their circuits around the room and left behind a class—and a professor—that were markedly less focused on the Japanese economy. (A note for the future, Professor Bogan: "It's on the exam" is unlikely to re-engage a room full of dong-struck undergraduates.)And then about a third of the students sitting in the lecture hall got up and left. Well done, Chi Phi! You almost doubled attendance at ECO 101 lecture today. At least for the first 27 minutes of class.So add this event to the long list of things Princeton pledges are traditionally required to do, which includes carrying cigarette- and condom-filled fanny packs, taking ballet lessons, and, apparently, coming up with an alternative to the now-banned Nude Olympics.And for all of you who say Princeton students aren’t ballsy enough to carry on traditions involving nudity, I can say, from very personal experience, that this is just not the case. Trust me, these guys were plenty ballsy.