To the Herald,

I write now from my second story apartment on College Street. It’s nearly 1 AM and I have an early class. I should be doing homework or studying, sleeping even… but instead, I’m listening to the high pitch squeals and guttural groans of my peers one story below. There’s a hundred of them and they are all crowded around a large bus that’s parked directly in front of my house. Crowds move quickly down the street toward the comotion… the yard fills and the chanting and cheering begins to grow louder and louder. Cars slow to a halt as they observe what’s there, arms fly out passenger seat windows with cell phones to capture it all, camera flashes fire every other minute– the Girls Gone Wild bus has come to Bowling Green and it’s parked on my front yard.

They were wise to pick this night. It’s Halloween and the one night of the year when it’s not a stretch to find half-dressed college students running around in public. I hear a male yell, “This is the best fraternity in town!” His victorious cry comes from the front porch of the Sigma Chi house where the gathering began and the bus has found permission to stop. Does this school-affiliated fraternity have permission for this? I’m sure the officials and alumni of our school will be tickled pink to hear that one of Western’s fine greek organazations will be featured on a Girls Gone Wild video. How exciting. I mean, really.. it’s great news, no?

I descend down in to the front yard, skeptical, upset, and frightened. Two cops show up, momentarily break up what they can, but then claim they can’t really do much and drive away. They apologize to my landlord who stands, watching the party flood his yard. I watch in sadness as stumbling girls file on to this bus, and forty or fifty boys crowd around the entrance. They’re literally panting and begging in utter desperation for a glimpse of what’s going on. Boyfriends call after their girlfriends, pounding on the bus and screaming their names– begging them to stop. Photographers are documenting the happenings as I see the whole event for it’s primal nature: Animals. They’re crowding. Circling like buzzards. Mouths hung wide with a naked and unashamed desire. I realize that this is the rawest display of human nature that I have ever witnessed.

Does this represent our school? As adults, we have the freedom to do whatever we choose. Your morals are your own business. If your choice was to be in that crowd tonight, so be it. Sure, you’re on my front yard, screaming in your animalistic tone. Sure, I probably won’t be able to sleep tonight. It’s cool. Sure, you’re leaning on my car and pouring your drinks in to my yard. That’s fine. So here’s my question. When these tapes are produced, will ‘Western Kentucky University’ be splashed across the bottom of the screen? Those girls on the bus downstairs right now, shedding whatever dignity they had left, is it really fair for them to represent all the women at Western?

Let’s hear a round of applause for the Sigma Chi boys. Really, you shouldn’t have.

- Hannah Moody
615.495.0053
Nashville, TN
Junior