Streaker fights lewdness charge

BELLEFONTE, Pa., June 12 (UPI) -- A university student in Bellefonte, Pa., claimed after her arrest for streaking that her naked run did not qualify as criminal under the law.

Penn State student Elizabeth Burke, 20, claims her participation in the "Mifflin Streak" -- an annual tradition of running down Mifflin Road just after midnight to kick off finals week -- did not violate laws against open lewdness because the act did not "affront or alarm" anyone, as the law requires for prosecution, the State College (Pa.) Centre Daily reported Thursday.

"Just because a person doesn't approve of the streak, that doesn't make it a criminal act," said Burke's attorney, Stacy Parks Miller. "Have we lost our senses of humor?"

Centre County District Judge Thomas Jordan found enough evidence supporting the open lewdness charge to refer the case to trial.

Seven other students were arrested for participating in the streak, but Burke is the only defendant who has not accepted a plea bargain or sought to have the charges dismissed through the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.