THE LLAMA LEDGER – student news at Simon’s Rock

by Faine Greenwood

is nudity “freedom of expression”?

Nudity is not uncommon at Simon’s Rock, but Robert Graves, then dean of students at Bennington College in Bennington, Vt., outlawed public nudity at the college in 2004.

In response, Bennington students reacted and more than 200 Bennington students, a few of them naked, marched across campus to protest against what they saw as a crackdown by the administration on freedom of expression.

Many Bennington students felt nudity brought out their positive aspects and promoted self-awareness, self-acceptance and an appreciation of the nude human body.

Today the problem is still unresolved.  Says Graves: “Public nudity is not allowed in Massachusetts, therefore it is not allowed at Simon’s Rock.  We do not live in a clothing-optional society; appropriate clothing is required in most places here in Great Barrington, in the state of Massachusetts, and in the U.S.”

What do Simon’s Rock students think?

“I believe people should be able to wear anything, or nothing, if they want,” says sophomore Laura Byrne.

Sophomore Jessica Mah has similar views: “Personally, I have no problem with nudity and the college should allow students to choose for themselves whether or not they’d like to be nude.”

Not everyone agrees, of course, and so the saga continues…

Nonetheless, we like that…that nudity is “freedom of expression”.  We like that a lot! (says the Llama Ledger)

COMMENT:

Is exhibitionism a crime?

Or is it freedom of expression?

What do you think?

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