The cameras of Playboy magazine will be aimed at Conference USA schools-including Saint Louis University-for the magazine’s October issue.

During the magazine’s first visit to C-USA, Playboy photographers will spend two days interviewing candidates at 13 schools including Marquette University, DePaul University and the University of Houston.

Candidates for the fall 2000 college pictorial must be at least 18 years old and registered as full- or part-time students at a C-USA university. When Playboy photographers will hit SLU’s campus remains unknown.

Executive Vice President James Kimmey said that the University had not been contacted by Playboy prior to its announcement that SLU students will be considered for the pictorial.

“This does not violate any school policy,” Kimmey said, adding that no discretionary policies or rules exist against such events.

Vice President for Public Relations Bob Woodruff surmised that as part of its marketing strategy, Playboy contacted media outlets hoping to stir up interest and attention instead of directly contacting C-USA schools.

“We would not knowingly allow their cameras on campus,” Woodruff said. “We trust that students will use their best judgment.”

Students expressed mixed reactions to the news. Some said that they would be uncomfortable having fellow students featured in Playboy.

“If my friend that doesn’t go to SLU saw it, I’d feel like our school is less than what it is,” said Megan Irwin, freshman pre-med and art major.

Fellow freshman Julie Maletto agreed.

“It’s their body, so I guess it’s their decision, but I don’t want my school’s name on a picture,” Maletto said.

Junior finance major Jerry Warchol added his perspective on having a fellow student featured in Playboy magazine. “I would always look at that person a little differently with that picture in mind,” Warchol said.

International business major Brandon Middleton said that seeing his peers in a magazine would be a positive experience.

“I’d feel important because I’d know a person featured in a national magazine and not many people can say that,” Middleton said.

Some students believe that the situation is degrading to either the SLU’s reputation or those students who participate.

“I would really be surprised to see someone I knew in it, and I’d wonder why they did it,” said Vanessa Williams. “I don’t agree with it but I wouldn’t think less of someone that did it. They have their reasons.”

“I’d have to have a lot of respect for someone to do that, but at the same time it’s kind of degrading,” said freshman Matt Runty. “It would probably change my image of that person.”

Other students, such as Sabine Koebel, are indifferent towards the event.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” Koebel said. “I’m not going to be one of [those students in the pictorial]. If they want to do it, that’s their business.”