Public nudity Web site Coccozella.com has posted hundreds of pictures of students participating in Tufts' 2007 Naked Quad Run (NQR), clearly exposing the faces and nude bodies of undergraduates as they dash through the residential quad.
The pictures were submitted by someone that had attended and photographed the event on Dec. 11. The Web site's manager, who would not reveal his real name but refers to himself as "Cocco," would not reveal the name of the person who had sent them in.
"Everyone photographs interesting things they encounter and of course people will photograph the quad run as well," Cocco told the Daily in an e-mail. "Photos and reports are sent to us from all over the world."
He further explained that contributing photographers prefer to remain anonymous due to the controversial reputations of Web sites like Coccozella.
"This is why you will not hear from any of the photographers," he said. "They know someone will be against photography at the event. It all comes down to the prejudice against nudity, something the run itself is standing up against by virtue of its existence."
Access to the NQR images is restricted to Coccozella's paying members, although anyone who visits the Web site can view some of its other galleries, which are separated by theme and include "Nude in Public Protests Worldwide," "Public Nudity at Events and Carnivals" and "Nude Beaches, Parks, and Hot Springs all over the World."
"Because of the social stigma against nudity, [Coccozella] has to be an 'adult' Web site," Cocco said. "But the aspect of restricted access is the only similarity to other 'adult' Web sites."
According to Cocco, Tufts' annual NQR fits in with the Web site's philosophy that the human body should be celebrated in all its forms. "Coccozella.com is part of a movement to promote body freedom in a wide variety of forms, virtually always non-sexual," he said.
This is not the first time that NQR participants have been revealed on the Internet - although the close-up, full-frontal exposure is rare. This past December, the Somerville Journal posted an NQR video and pictures with mostly backside nudity on its Web site, along with a full-length article. This prompted uproar and unease from many students.
But Coccozella believes that if people participate in a nude event, they should be aware that photographs of their bodies might be disseminated without their consent.
"If you participate in a public festive event, there is a tacit collective agreement that people are going come and watch you and make records of the event, whether you are naked or not," he said. "You cannot walk naked down a city street and at the same time be upset that someone takes your picture ... you either have a relaxed attitude about people seeing your body or you keep your clothes on in public."
He added that this type of photography, known as "street photography," has been tested in court.
"I do realize that there are people who feel that any photograph of them is subject to their approval. If you are in public you do not have much privacy," he said.
