UTV film captures nude men

When a Sigma Chi brother was wrestling naked in the sand of his fraternity's outdoor volleyball court, he probably didn't know how many people would be watching him. To the brother's chagrin, University Television General Manager Todd Donovan had his video camera rolling from his High Rise East room overlooking the court. UTV anchor Abby Russell reported on the incident on the station's Monday Digest program, while the videotape was played for all UTV-watching High Rise residents to see. According to the report, the incident was a "time honored tradition" of the University's Sigma Chi chapter which started when the volleyball court was constructed. Called "Tag the Pledge Trainer," the event pits newly initiated pledges against their former pledge trainer in an apparent wrestling match. Russell, a College sophomore, said that she called the Sigma Chi house before Monday's show, and was told that "Hairy," the man featured naked in the video, and "Primo," another brother who had participated naked in a similar event before, wanted to be interviewed by UTV to "defend their nakedness." Last night, on UTV's Thursday Digest show, Russell conducted an interview with the two brothers, and the 20-second familiar video was replayed. "Hairy" and "Primo," who were introduced as the fraternity's president and pledge trainer, appeared on UTV's set wearing monster masks to conceal their identities. The duo explained that the event generally takes place after 14 weeks of "pledge programming." Asked how "Hairy" got to his naked state, he answered, "The pledges did have an opportunity to take [my] clothes off." Both Russell and co-anchor Nancy Weiner said they enjoyed the interview. "I thought it went well," Russell said. "They surprised me with their charm -- even clothed they were charming. They took me aback because I didn't expect them to have masks and I didn't expect them to have as much enthusiasm." "I think they were hilarious," said Weiner, a College sophomore. " 'Hairy' took his televised nakedness very well. He seemed very proud of it." Assistant Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta said that he could not speculate on the legality of the incident because he had not seen the video. But in backing up Judicial Inquiry Officer Catherine Schifter's recent decision on a Sigma Alpha Epsilon case which involved public nudity, Moneta said the most important factor was whether the event was consensual or not. The two Sigma Chi brothers refused to comment last night. "We signed exclusive rights with UTV," one brother said. "We're not going to talk with the [Daily Pennsylvanian]."