‘Boobquake’ draws men, scantily clad women
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 04/27/2010
Bryce Edwards | Staff Photographer
Participants of Boobquake attempt to test an Iranian cleric's statement that blamed recent earthquakes on women who wear immodest clothing, under the Bell Tower April 26.
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Women in push-up bras and unbuttoned shirts may cause men to stare, but according to one Purdue student’s research, it doesn’t cause earthquakes.
Iranian cleric Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted by Iranian media as saying “Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes.”
Jennifer McCreight, a senior in the College of Science, organized “Boobquake” to test Sedighi’s statement. At 1 p.m. Monday by the Bell Tower, women in short dresses, racy costumes and other risqué clothing stood with signs reading “Cleavage for Science” and “Amnesty” to bring awareness to McCreight’s experiment.
Pleased with the turnout and beautiful weather, McCreight said possibly the inverse of the cleric’s statement is true.
“It was supposed to rain today, but we lucked out. Maybe (God) does want to see it,” McCreight said.
The group gathering around the Bell Tower did have its fair share of women in attention-grabbing clothing; however, the majority of the crowd was men.
Matt Kerns, a graduate student, showed up at the gathering to show his support of scientific literacy and make fun of the claim made by Sedighi. Though Kerns was excited to attend this gathering, he was expecting many men to be present due to the conditions of the “experiment.”
“I was thinking this would be a sausage fest since there’s going to be scantily-dressed women,” Kerns said, but he attended regardless, holding his sign, “God hates boobs.”
“The whole goal of the gathering was to entertain,” Kerns said, “and I’ve seen many people laughing and having a good time.”
Angela Venado, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts, drew attention to “Boobquake” by wearing the most “flamboyant” costume she had in her closet. Venado came to support “Boobquake” because it is a way for women of science to use their bodies for a specific purpose.
Venado was excited with the turnout, especially since “Boobquake” has reached around the world.
“This is just a tiny epicenter for ‘Boobquake,’” Venado said. “These are happening all over the world.”