Despite brisk sales of Playboy's "Women of the Ivy League" pictorial, most students said the issue is not making much of an impression on campus.
Kate Berkeley '99 said the spread does not bother her. "Most people don't assume it is an accurate portrayal -- most Ivy League women aren't showing their stuff," she said.
Sarah Johnston '97, one of the leaders of the anti-Playboy protest last spring said, "Most people are curious about it, but I don't think it will have a huge impact on the campus."
"I'd hate to think that an issue of Playboy could truly set back the women of the Ivy League," she said.
Johnston and about 35 other students staged a protest outside the Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts in the spring when Playboy photographers came to campus to seek models. The protesters marched around the Green chanting "Hey hey, ho ho, Playboy has got to go" and then congregated in front of the Hop.
Erika Meitner '96, the former editor of the Spare Rib, a women's and gender issues publication, said the Playboy pictorial "did little damage."
"The battle was won in that awareness was raised. The spread is almost irrelevant," Meitner said. "But it is demeaning for women who have been recognized for intellect to be so reduced."
Dean of the College Lee Pelton, who said he has not seen the pictorial, said the opposition to Playboy was "successful" in sparking discussion. "The community took advantage of the moment as a teachable occasion," Pelton said.
Other students also said they think the Ivy League was poorly represented in the issue -- but for a different reason.
"We have prettier girls than was reflected," Hank Brier '98 said.
According to Matt Sechrest '97, the spread created the impression that Ivy League women are less attractive than those in other athletic conferences.
"It wasn't an accurate reflection of the Ivy League," he said. "It makes it seem we are worse than the" Southeastern Conference.
