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On Sept. 5, students stripped down to their undies and took a midnight run around campus-laughing, screaming and smiling at bewildered passerby.

They met in the alleyway behind Buil. 39, and when the clock struck 11:55 p.m., all students took off the clothes they wanted to donate and abandoned them in a huge pile, beginning their trek around campus.

These travels involved a run past the statue of Gandhi, where other students who had been watching the spectacle go by decided to abandon their own clothes on the ground and join the run.

They continued through the Green.

Running past the Hall, the group entered the courtyards of the Landing, where they met cheers of encouragement from the residents above and around them.

“Why are you guys doing this?!” a student screamed from above, hanging over the railing.

“We donated our clothes to charity!” came the response. “Join us!”

The Dash then crossed the street past the various car horns into the Crossings, where they turned around to run back again through the Landing and into the Village.

By losing their clothes, many students said they gained confidence, liberation, and a humble spirit. The experience of letting loose created an energy in the crowd that lasted throughout the entire run, and the continued encouragement of the runners as well as the surrounding audience helped to preserve the endurance of those less fit in the race.

The dash ended where it began-in the alleyway behind Buil. 39. Those that made it in the first group posed for their victory picture, and then waited to congratulate the runners that had not yet arrived. As each of the remaining runners filtered in, they received a high five and the continued vocal encouragement of many.

“Why didn’t you wear your tennis shoes?” one student asked another.

“I donated them!”

So is the response of a champion.