By Thompson Perry
If the recent upswing in temperature has brought happy thoughts to campus. Imagine how Zachary Seiler feels.
Seiler and a host of other students will spend Wednesday afternoon streaking across campus, each participant clad in only a thin blue speedo. It will be Seiler’s third time donning the garb for his spandex streak across Belknap campus.
“Running across U of L in just a speedo? In this weather? Wow,” said freshman undecided major Jackie Anderson. “That takes serious guts. Those guys participating must have a death wish.”
On the contrary, however; Seiler and his barely-clad cohorts are running thanks to a wish for life.
Each year, the Seiler Speedo Streak benefits a deserving charity, and this year’s inception is no different; money raised from tomorrow’s dash will benefit cancer research and the Lymphoma Leukemia Society. In years past, beneficiaries have included Kosair Hospital and Home of the Innocents.
As time goes on and the benefiting charities change, so too does the event itself. What started with Zachary Seiler running across campus alone on the cold evening of Feb. 12, 2007, has evolved into an event which opens itself up to other students with the willingness to slip into a snug spandex speedo and raise a little money for a good cause.
Alex Frommeyer, who has played an important role in establishing and building upon the success of the streak, said he has seen this evolution firsthand.
“The Zac Seiler Speedo Streak promises to be an even more outrageous event as it enters its third year,” said Frommeyer. “Not only is a great charity the beneficiary of all proceeds from the Streak, but U of L students are once again entertained by the best thing in a speedo since Michael Phelps.”
And with this kind of enthusiasm from the organizers, streakers and the campus community at large, it’s easy to see the Speedo Streak’s success continue to increase exponentially.
It can truly be said that Zachary Seiler is on a winning streak.
