STREAKING - the act of taking off one clothes and running naked through a public space - may be obscene for Singapore universities.

But many overseas universities openly endorse these naked marathons. They are held annually, usually to celebrate an occasion, such as the last day of class or even to celebrate the first rainfall of the season.

Streaking has also been featured in TV shows, movies, songs and even computer games, like TheSims2: University expansion pack.

Here are some universities where streaking has become a tradition:

University of Michigan

Streaking has existed here as early as 1986.

In an event called the Naked Mile, students streak across campus for a distance of one mile. At the height of its popularity in the 1990s, as many as 800 students took part.

Fox News even covered the event in 1999.

But since 2000, the number of participants has declined due to enforcement of public indecency laws.

Harvard University

Streaking is done here on the night before the students' final examinations.

Known as The Primal Scream, it involves students running two laps around the renowned Harvard Yard.

Besides spectators, the school's marching band would line the pathways to cheer the students and excite the crowd.

University of the Philippines

Members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity are known to streak in an annual event called the UPOblation Run - to commemorate the school's anniversary.

The event began as early as in 1977.

- Geraldine Yeo, newsroom intern

This article was first published in The New Paper.