Updated November 3, 2011

This information is provided by the Professors & Researchers Special Interest Group of The Naturist Society.  Please discover all of the other wonderful topics available by entering this site through the front door.

Campus Nudist Organizations

    For spontaneous unofficial nudity on many campuses, see the streaking page.  For dreams about what could be, see the visionary colleges page.  For non-campus groups of this same age range, see the young adult groups page.  Here are student nudist organizations officially recognized by their colleges:

California State University at Northridge, 1973-c.83
University of Pennsylvania, 1994-c.98
University of Texas at Austin, 1995
University of Toronto, 1998-c.2000
Florida State University, 2009-present

    Most people had forgotten about the early student nudist group at Cal State Northridge before the University of Pennsylvania Naturist Student Association claimed in 1994 to be the first in the nation.  Unlike other groups, the Pennsylvania club staged a one-hour nude recruiting drive on campus, citing freedom of speech protection.  The group fell apart when Gons Nachman, the founder, graduated.

    The Longhorn Nudists organized at the University of Texas at Austin in February of 1995, but collapsed before the year was out.  Five years later, someone tried to revive the club with a web page that was never finished.  During the organization's brief existence, they managed to get themselves officially recognized by campus authorities, make contact with the local naturist group, and publish some useful pointers in Nude & Natural.

    The University of Toronto Naturists claimed (probably accurately) in 1998 to be the first campus nude organization officially recognized in Canada.  Unfortunately, their swims at an off-campus rented pool attracted some community members, but few students.  The group faded away when Thomas Lundy, the founder, graduated.

    And so, Naturally FSU, founded in 2009 at Florida State University, is the fifth known officially recognized student naturist group in North America.  Unlike the other groups, it is affiliated with a longstanding nudist organization in the community.


Au Naturel at CSUN
by Gary Mussell

    The first college nudist club in the country was at Cal State Northridge started in 1973.  I know, I was there, one of its charter members.  This preceded the campus clubs in Pennsylvania and Toronto by a full decade.  The CSUN group stayed together for about 10 years, through the 1970s and into the mid-80s.  Many of us remained active even after graduation as a non-landed club and some of us are still friends 35 years later. 

    The full story: We were officially recognized and registered with the college.  The 70s were the heyday of free beaches, so it wasn’t as tough as today.

    Even so, we went through quite a number of student government committee meetings as I recall, and our faculty sponsor had tenure and that helped.  We had to have all meetings off-campus.  Luckily one of the students lived only a mile from campus and had a large back yard and pool, so we met there and had monthly pool parties.  I remember each Halloween we had a body painting party at the home of one member who didn’t mind the paint splatters.

    After we all graduated we continued to use each other’s back yards for pool parties, plus there were a couple of houseboat trips.  Once we took over a motel in Palm Springs and had it nude just for us for a weekend.  Elysium Fields, which was about 10 miles away, gave us a “club day” once a month, so that is how many in the group were introduced to that nudist park.

    The club’s name was Au Natural.  Our downfall was we stopped finding new members and leaders on campus.  We were still going strong but eventually CSUN closed us for inactivity at the college.  After Elysium closed in 2000 many of us organized our current club, Southern California Naturist Association, and there are about 6-7 of us old timers from Au Natural still active in it today.  Somewhere there is a photo album of all of us VERY young in a hot tub and also on a houseboat I think, if you are interested.  Fun times.


U Penn Nudists Bare All at Rally
by Daniel Gingiss

Daily Pennsylvanian
May 13, 1994

    Due to the near-90-degree temperatures at the end of last month, most students were scantily dressed in T-shirts and shorts.  But for members of the newly-formed University of Pennsylvania Naturist Student Association, the day was an occasion to not dress at all.  The Association--the first of its kind in the United States, according to president, second year Law student Gons Nachman--held a one-hour demonstration at the Peace Symbol on College Green to show that "nude is not lewd."  As wide-eyed students, faculty and Open Expression Monitors alike looked on, the group of about eight stripped down to complete nakedness.

    According to the Association's Basic Principles and Philosophy document, the group believes that nudity is "natural, wholesome, and positive," and should not be equated with sexuality.

    "I started this organization because I wanted to take advantage of the intelligent environment of a college campus to make the philosophy of naturism visible in the community," Nachman announced to a group of about 50 passersby.  "We want to show, as you can see, that we feel comfortable with nudity."

    The event consisted of five brief speeches by Association members, plus a few videos on the naturist movement.  Nachman, who said he has studied constitutional and criminal law, maintains "that our behavior is lawful and is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution because we are trying to communicate a message."

    Nachman and company have defended that message several times in the past.  In April, 1993, after being denied permission to appear nude in a law class because a student was uncomfortable, Nachman stood naked outside the Law School on Sansom Street in silent protest.  And last summer, the Association performed in a nude run across campus--in broad daylight.

    Pierce College freshman Monica Obiols, who was one of two women to appear nude April 25, said she does not understand why nudity is considered more of a taboo for women than for men.  "I guess it's because it's an issue that has been around for many years, so women don't think about it anymore," she said.  "They just do what society wants them to do and just follow the rules."

    First-year Education graduate student Phillip Tromovitch said he is pleased not only with the turnout of people to watch the event, but with their attitudes as well.  "Most of the people here that are in the audience aren't really paying attention," he said.  "It's not a big deal--there's a bunch of naked people up here and people don't really care." Tromovitch, who spends most of his time at home in the nude, said the apparent apathy toward the nude students is good because it means people are accepting of it and that it is seemingly natural.

    College senior David Abramson, the only University undergraduate to appear in the demonstration, said it is important to differentiate between nudity and sexuality.  "Nudity and sexuality are not inextricably intertwined," he said.  "They are separable, and this should, if nothing else, demonstrate that."

    The event continued peacefully for more than an hour, and the once wide-eyed students on College Green went back to eating their lunches.

    "I think it's great--I don't think I could do it, but more power to them and I enjoy watching," said first-year Medical student Bill Resnick, who was dining on the Green.  "I think the people are actually pretty brave to do what they're doing, and act on their principles."


What Has Worked at the U.T.-Austin
by Kevin Kelly

Nude & Natural 15.3

Do:

    ● Do get the word out.  You need to distribute flyers, post bulletins, take out ads in the student paper, and anything else you can do to let people know that your group exists.  This is the most important step.

    ● Do register with your school as a bona fide student group.  At most colleges and universities you only need a few registered students in your organization for it to be recognized by the administration; at the University of Texas, for example, the minimum is three.  When registering, explain some of your activities to the Student Organization office.  For example, I let them know ahead of time that we planned to hold clothing-optional rallies at our free speech area, and they were fine with that.  However, each school is different, and may have more stringent guidelines for registering a group, or prohibitions on what kind of activities may be sanctioned.  It's a good idea to check out your school's policy first.

    One benefit of registering is, of course, greater exposure.  I have had several people browse through the list of student organizations, then call me for more information.  Being registered also gives you credibility; it establishes you as a legitimate group composed of people who are sincere in their organization's stated beliefs.  At some schools, registered student organizations are eligible for small amounts of grant money that may be used for further promotion of the group and for its activities.

    ● Do have a clear idea in mind of what your group's goals and activities will be.  My number was posted in the paper and people began calling right away.  I stumbled through a few conversations before I fully thought out the direction in which I wanted to take the club.  It's best not to let that happen.

    ● Do look for support from established local Naturist groups, if there are any in your area.  I approached Austin's Hill Country Nudists with my plans and they were more than supportive with ideas, materials, contacts and even places to hold meetings.  If you can, establish a good rapport with other Naturist groups.  They are a great resource, and can also add to your credibility.

    ● Do network with other college Naturist groups nationwide.  Contact their main representatives.  They can often provide you with great insight, experience and information; remember, they have faced many of the same challenges and questions you will be facing.

    ● Do network with other groups with whom you may share common ground.  I discovered that the Liberal Arts Council at our school holds skinny-dipping parties regularly, so they were very interested in our club.  You may also find people of similar interests in the art and drama departments, for example.  These are good places to post bulletins.

    ● Do plan special activities and events for your club to be involved in.  We thought of having art sessions with the art department, clothing drives at local laundromats, and other high-profile campus events.  Being involved in community service activities can help create a positive image for your club and add members to your roster at the same time.

Don't:

    ● Don't go ahead with clothing-optional events on campus without talking to the administration first.  It's also a good idea to be familiar with the local and state laws regarding public nudity.  In Austin, for example, it is legal for women to be topfree, and nudity must be considered "lewd" for citations to be issued.  This is important; you don't want your first big event to end in arrests and negative controversy.

    ● Don't let the media have the opportunity to portray your group in a negative light.  Inform the student and perhaps local papers of upcoming activities, and invite them to attend.  Discuss in detail your club's philosophy and explain in detail what the club (and Naturism in general, if necessary) is all about.  Provide them with newsletters, pamphlets or other materials your club produces.  If possible, invite them to an event that is already likely to bring you positive exposure, like a charity fund raiser.

    ● Don't rest on your laurels.  Be aware from the beginning that you are going to have to spend some time on this if it is going to work.  For example, I spent about two hours a week on our newsletter, and planned our meetings in advance to maximize their effectiveness.  A club that is poorly structured or managed sporadically can become disorganized faster than you can imagine, but...

    ● Don't overdo it; have fun.  Don't overstructure your group either.  I have been involved with some groups that spent way too much time dealing with officer elections and appointments and other red tape.  I have found that a senior representative (the club "leader") can easily guide discussions and the like with the rest of the members' input, and everyone can play a part in directing the club's activities.

    ● Don't be afraid to get involved.  I held back for one or two semesters because I wasn't sure how my ideas would be received.  But once things got rolling I was really glad I took a chance and started the group.



Students Go Starkers
(Nudist Club at University of Toronto)

Maclean's
April 26, 1999

    Thomas Lundy will not be forgotten by the lifeguards at the University of Toronto Athletic Centre anytime soon.  Lundy, 26, an education student, started the first official naturist (nudist) club on campus last September--actually the first approved naturist club at any Canadian university.  "I was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly everything went," says Lundy, who organizes monthly nude swims for the 100 members at the university pool.  "Besides a couple of guys who only came because they wanted to watch, everyone has been very supportive."

    When Lundy was eight years old, his family moved from Toronto to Lahr, Germany, where they got into the naturist lifestyle.  When Lundy returned from Europe 13 years later, he decided to import his clothes-free lifestyle to Canada.  He has since made it safe for University of Toronto students and faculty to enjoy nude swimming and volleyball--"the most popular naturist sport."  Now, he has turned his attention to the famous European Naturist Student Festival in Rotterdam, Holland, the largest nude event of its kind in the world.  Lundy and five members of the U of T club are going to the festival in May--becoming the first Canadian group to attend the gathering.  "It is a complete nude village," says Lundy, describing the setting for the four-day event that attracts more than 500 young people and includes activities such as music, dancing and body painting.  "And now we will be able to have a Canadian team for the organized competitive sports."  Nude curling anyone?


FSU Campus Group Officially Recognized

The Bulletin
March 2010

    For just the fifth time in history, a North American college has officially recognized a student nudist organization.  (The first four were California State University at Northwood in the 1970s, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of Toronto in the 1990s.  The last three groups didn't last long.)  Now Florida State University has recognized Naturally FSU, a subsidiary of Tallahassee Naturally.  Richard Bertram of our SIG serves as the faculty advisor.

    Tallahassee Naturally has for decades maintained about a 15% student membership--better than any other club is doing.  So why would they bother with a campus organization--given the short-lived history of such groups, and the fact that Tallahassee Naturally draws its students from three or four different colleges?  The answer is growing xenophobia on the FSU campus that was making it impossible to let students know about nudist opportunities.  (The latest xenophobic manifestation is actual barriers in the streets, preventing cars from getting within several blocks of the library.)  As reported in this newsletter, community organizations or people with outside ideas are increasingly barred from display tables, speaking opportunities, and bulletin board use.  A student nudist organization is probably not what bureaucrats had in mind, but that is what their restrictive policies have produced.  So far, the news has not traveled through the entire bureaucracy; there could be trouble yet.

    There have been no problems at historically black Florida A & M University, Tallahassee Community College, or nearby Valdosta State University.  Also nearby, tiny Thomas University has always censored its student newspaper, so their students are unaware of nudist opportunities in the area.

    Some FSU professors see the new organization as entirely appropriate.  After all, the college streaking movement of the 1970s largely began at Florida State.

    Trevor Woods, a senior at FSU, seized the initiative, and steered the new group through the bureaucratic hurdles.  His next job is to find a successor.  That is where previous student nudist organizations have faltered.  But they did not have the support of a thriving nudist group in the community.  The hope is that if and when a leadership vacuum occurs, Tallahassee Naturally can step in and find new leadership.  The model here is FSU’s Center for Participant Education--the last survivor of the “free universities” of the 70s.  Several times, the center has nearly collapsed during periods of weak leadership, but each time, alumni and teachers of non-credit classes in the community have stepped in to keep it going.

    Naturally FSU’s constitution promises no nudity on campus.  Instead, the group will encourage participation in Tallahassee Naturally’s student-oriented events: the annual College Greek Athletic Meet, and monthly Full-Moon Skinny-Dips during the warmer months.  There have also been independent student-only skinny-dipping excursions to sinkholes in the nearby national forest.


Naturally FSU brochure
2011

Naturally FSU

    Naturally FSU is currently the only officially recognized college nudist organization in the nation.  It is part of a long tradition.  Other officially recognized groups have flourished at:

California State University at Northridge, 1973-c.83
University of Pennsylvania, 1994-c.98
University of Texas at Austin, 1995
University of Toronto, 1998-c.2000
Florida State University, 2009-

    There have also been unofficial groups such as the Hamilton College Varsity Streaking Team.  And many colleges for years had an annual streak, including the Naked Mile at the University of Michigan and the so-called Nude Olympics at Princeton.  Purdue, Stanford, Holy Cross, Southern California, and countless other colleges had similar traditions right up until recently.  Rice still does.  And don't forget that the national college streaking fad of the 1970s started pretty much at FSU.  Lots of Tallahassee's leading citizens cherish memories of those fine free days.

    Naturally FSU does not streak, but organizes participation in legal nude events in the Tallahassee area.

    Naturism is about being natural in nature.  It is not about sex.  Here is an opportunity to become comfortable with yourself, and take pride in all that you are.  Here is a chance to find your place in nature, just as thousands of generations have before you.  Feel the sun and the wind tingling every hair on your body.  Discover true freedom.  Find peace with yourself and the world around you.

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Full-Moon Skinny-Dips

    Naturally FSU is closely affiliated with Tallahassee Naturally, the local nudist group with the largest percentage of college students in the nation.  They sponsor Full-Moon Skinny-Dips during the warm months (usually April through October).  These events are free—just right for a student budget.

    Enjoy that all-American pastime: a skinny-dip at the ole' swimmin' hole.  Add to it the light of a full moon, a blazing campfire, a marshmallow roast, mellow conversation, chirping of the crickets, and the pine trees rustling overhead for a memorable evening attuned to yourself and nature.  A drum circle and/or overnight camping are additional options.

    Rides are available.  A guide will meet you at 7:00 in the parking lot south of the FSU bookstore, or you can get dates and directions to the lake on the Tallahassee Naturally web site.


            Follow Tallahassee Naturally on Facebook

            For lots of local information, go to:
            www.tallahasseenaturally.org

            For statewide activities check out:
            www.floridayoungnaturists.com

            And for general college nudity, visit
            www.paullevalley.com/sig

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College Greek Athletic Meet

    Each spring (usually late March), Tallahassee Naturally sponsors the world's only authentically nude re-enactment of the ancient pentathlon.

    Join students from several colleges for a day of authentic Greek athletics—nude just like 2500 years ago.  There are morning demonstrations and practice in the ancient methods, then afternoon competition in the pentathlon (long jump, discus, 200-yard dash, javelin, and stand-up wrestling).  Real athletes and people who have never tried anything like this before compete in separate divisions.  There are men's and women's divisions.  The idea is to discover what it really felt like to be a student in ancient Greece, where the goal was a well developed mind in a well developed body—where students spent all year perfecting themselves, then presented themselves naked before the gods as an act of worship.

    [Photo of participating athletes from several colleges omitted here.]

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Other Local Nude Opportunities

Suntan Lake

    Tallahassee Naturally rents a 40-acre woods with a 6-acre blue lake near Monticello (the next town to the east).  It is available every weekend year-round (from Friday noon till Sunday evening).  Sundays are almost always the bigger day.  From April through October, the last Sunday of the month is a picnic, so bring food to share.  Get that all-over tan without zapping yourself.  How about a game of naked volleyball or badminton or frisbee?  Or natural hiking and canoeing?  It's a great place to do homework or bring children.  First visit free.  Low student rates.

Sinkhole Tour

    The forests south of Tallahassee are honeycombed with sinkholes—places with deep clear water where people have skinny-dipped since the time of the Indians.  Learn where the best of them are, so you and your friends can go anytime you want.  Tallahassee Naturally sponsors at least one guided tour each summer.

Florida Young Naturists

    This statewide organization sponsors large college-age nude gatherings—often during breaks, and perhaps near where you are spending your break.

Why wait?

    Every year, college juniors and seniors finally get up their nerve to try nude recreation.  And they immediately kick themselves for not doing it a couple of years sooner.  Don't waste this rare opportunity.  Be free this year.


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