By Danielle Deaver
Editor in Chief
Will a student bare (almost) all in the world's most famous soft-core porn magazine? Playboy magazine will come to Winston-Salem April 20-21 to select a female student from Wake Forest for the "Women of the ACC" photo spread, scheduled to run in its October 1998 issue.
Playboy will visit every school in the Atlantic Coast Conference this spring to select a female model from each for the issue.
The event is not affiliated with the university, which was never contacted by Playboy about the photo shoot. They have not been granted permission even to hang fliers about the event, and probably will not be allowed to do so, according to Mike Ford, the director of student development.
"If there's an off-campus business, or restaurant trying to solicit on-campus, in the open (not in a specific building) it comes through this office," Ford said. "I think it would be something that would not be approved by this office because I don't think it's consistent with the ideals of this university."
Ford's concerns were echoed by many students, some of whom thought the photo shoot conflicted with the school's Baptist heritag.
"Not to sound like a member of the Christian Coalition or anything, but for Playboy to consider coming to a school as historically religious as Wake Forest means Wake is not living up to its standards," said freshman Shenika Watlington.
"I certainly think it's a bad idea for the individual. I can't imagine a college girl doing that and being ableto walk around campus. She'd never be treated the same way, I think," said freshman Dave Whalen. "I do think for a school that claims some religious ties, there's a conflict there."
Some students also expressed concerns about the consequences for the women photographed.
"They're legally free to do what they want to do. I would ask that they think twice about it -- they will have to deal with whatever reaction they get," junior Clinton Wilburn said.
One student had a very positive reaction to the idea. "I think it's terrific. I think it'll further their careers. There are only a few girls on campus I haven't seen naked anyway, so I'm looking forward to the issue," senior Tim Rogers said.
Another student who had no problem with the idea is sophomore Mike DeGroof, Playboy's Wake Forest student representative. He gives Playboy feedback on trends at the school and scouts out locations in the community for Playboy to do the shoot. The locations will be off-campus, he said, because of the amount of privacy necessary for the shoot.
DeGroof is also responsible for spreading the word about the Playboy selection process. The Old Gold and Black has accepted an advertisement for it, and DeGroof said he will place fliers around campus. "I was going to check with the university, but I'm probably going to do this either way," he said.
Playboy will also be hosting a party for students May 2, according to DeGroof. They will be partially paying for and providing some surprises for the All-stars party, sponsored last year by Pave the Quad, an underground student organization.
The party will be at an off-campus location. "I don't think the school would be too happy with an on-campus Playboy party," he said. DeGroof, who got his unpaid position through a friend at another campus, said that he does not see a problem with Playboy. "I don't think it's degrading to women at all," he said.
Senior Suzie Danks, a women's studies minor, disagreed. "I do think they contribute to the objectification of women, but at the same time I think the whole censorship thing gets really nasty. ... Females have the right to do whatever they want with their body. I don't agree with selling your body, but it seems to me that there are probably more important things you could be doing than posing for horny men," she said.
The university will probably not be affected at all by the photo spread, said Sandra Boyette, the vice president for university advancement. "I think if this were something that happened every year, it would be a matter of concern. I think we all hope women make smart choices regarding this, but I think people see it as an individual decision," she said.
Other administrators also expressed concerns.
"I hope no student steps forward, but I guess we can't stop them from advertising," said Ken Zick, the vice president for student life.
"I don't think we should have it because what is exploitative to women is exploitative to men," said Chaplain Ed Christman. "It's anti-feminine and anti-woman, as I understand those words."
Playboy last came to campus in 1989 for the "Women of the ACC" pictorial. Students protested through petitions and a demonstration at the photographer's hotel room that had to be broken up by city police.
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