Playboy Spread has Little Effect on University Image, Fund Drive

Linda MacColl

Cavalier Daily

Cavalier Daily

1983-08-30

Playboy Spread has Little Effect on University Image, Fund Drive
By LINDA MACCOLL
Despite accelerated sales and extensive press coverage, the September “Girls of the ACC” playboy issue is not having – and will not have – much effect on the University’s image or credibility, according to University administrators.
“It’s going to have surprisingly little effect on the University,” Assoc. Dean of Students Sybil Todd said. “The publicity will be short-lived.”
College Dean Robert Kellogg said the Playboy issue, which featured pictures of two University undergraduates, “doesn’t fall into the category of things that worry me.”
The magazine won’t affect fundraising either, said Development Vice President Marion Peavey, adding “We’ve only had one documented complaint.”
Although University administrators were generally unconcerned about the long-lasting effect of the photo spread, Todd said she was “disappointed” University women participated at all.
“I had this image that women at the University were into different things.
“There were some really outraged people in the [Charlottesville] community,” Todd continued. “I heard one lady say [the girls who posed] should be suspended. But we don’t suspend students for using poor judgment.”
Todd added she was glad, “for the girls’ sake,” the publicity coverage will end soon.
Sales of the magazine, meanwhile, differ in local shops.
At the University Bookstore, a regular carrier of Playboy, sales or "Girls of ACC" significantly surpassed those of other issues.
Some of the sluggish sales can be attributed to the magazine's early August release date, according to bookstore supply manager Jon Kates.
"We don't have much student traffic in the summer,” Kates said.
“I think Playboy made a serious mistake in their own sales in having it out too early,” he added. “The students missed the rush of publicity.”
And that "rush of publicity,” Kates said, was "a big to-do over nothing.”
Regardless, Kates will keep the magazines in stock an extra month. "It seems like the logical thing to do," he said.
Robert Mincer, manager of Mincer's Pipe Shop, said the magazine and the publicity have been good for his store.
This issue sold about 400 more magazines than usual, he said.
"It sold like we used to before we had girls at the University," he said.
And not only the magazine's increased sales looked good to Mincer.
“We were pleased to see a pair of Mincer’s shorts that [the model] was holding over her arm,” he said.
The 10-page spread on “Student Bodies” featured 19 models from the eight ACC schools.
The two University women pictured in the layout were third-year English major Cara Lee MacdDonald and fourth-year psychology major Lisa Winsor. Macdonald, an aspiring lawyer, was holding Mincer’s shorts.
Law School Admissions director Jerome Stokes said MacDonald’s modeling would not affect her chances of gaining admission to law school.