You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 2:55 p.m.

University of Michigan uncovered: Playboy coming to Ann Arbor for 'Girls of the Big Ten' shoot

By Kellie Woodhouse

Playboy is returning to the University of Michigan.

Caitlin Shannon_Non-nude[1].JPG

Former University of Michigan student Caitlin Shannon was featured in the 2008 "Girls of the Big Ten" Playboy Magazine pictorial.

America's most recognizable mens magazine is touring Big Ten schools in search of coed models for an upcoming 'Girls of the Big Ten' pictorial.

Playboy photographers will descend on Ann Arbor in one week, on March 15 and 16, and select between two and four women from U-M to feature.

Crews also are visiting 11 other Big Ten schools, including Ohio State University, Michigan State University and Penn State University.

Playboy was last in Ann Arbor in 2008 for another Big Ten shoot.

"We do a different conference every year," said Playboy representative Courtney Hardin. The magazine has been running college-themed pages once a year for the past 36 years.

Playboy producer Eden Orfanos said the magazine has already "gotten a lot of really good buzz" about the Ann Arbor shoot. She expects roughly 40 women to audition.

That's 15 more than auditioned for the 2008 issue, according to an Ann Arbor News article from 2007. That year about 25 students attended the casting call.

Just three Wolverines were selected for the 10 "Big Ten" pages in 2008 —students using the pseudonyms Renee Alison, Bobbie Korina and Caitlin Shannon— and news reports suggest the trio quickly entered semi-celebridom in Ann Arbor, participating in several in media interviews and autograph signings.

Orfanos says she wants to capture U-M students in their natural environment.

"Maybe we will have her in a baseball cap or a hoodie," she said. "We want someone who represents the student body. We actually want to connect with the girls that are there and give them the opportunity to represent the school."

Playboy does not shoot on campus and usually has no contact with school officials during casting calls, Orfanos says.

"We function completely separately," she said.

Orfanos said a handful of girls featured in the college pictorials go on to do additional work with Playboy. In 2008 students from Penn State and Ohio State become Playboy playmates.

This year's "Big Ten" special is scheduled to run in the October issue, which hits news stands September 21.

Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.

Comments

jrigglem

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.

Role Models: Sarah Jessica Parker And I'll say nothing more...

Clyde Kadiddlehogger

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.

I don't care. It was over for me when the best looking coed ever in the Girls of the Big Ten was alas, Ohio State's Paige Seyffer, who appeared with skimpy clothes on in the 1988 issue. Paige set the standard, IMHO. So attractive I still remember her name decades after I stopped reading that publication.

SPIKE ROBERSON

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 6:35 p.m.

A woman should be allowed to make her own judgements about participating in something like this without having to face the scorn of other women over how she chooses to display her own body. Don't like PLAYBOY? Don't buy it! Otherwise, come to terms with the fact that Feminism doesn't get to dictate female sexuality any more than it gets to dictate that of a man.

Tru2Blu76

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 8 a.m.

So lets look at this and try to understand: 1. It's okay to wear a dress which (automatically) displays a woman's (usually shaven) legs. 2. It's okay for women to wear form-fitting clothing. 3. It's okay for women to wear swim suits which range from form-fitting one-piece to "thongs" - baring an average of over 50% (up to over 90%) of a woman's body. 4. It's okay to wear feature-enhancing make up and jewelry. 5. Jewelry now includes nipple and tongue piercing jewelry, highlighting sexual functionality. 6. It's okay for a woman to spend money and effort to have "stylish" (i.e. sexually alluring) hair. 7. Across the U.S., at age 18, a woman is considered "legally able" to participate in consensual sex. BUT NOW - when young women who fall under all of the above categories CHOSE to model in the nude: IT'S SOMEHOW WRONG?? Wouldn't it be more accurate to call it: HONEST ( about exploiting their own sexual attractiveness). Every culture in the world: accepts both males and females displaying their sexual attractiveness. ONLY ideologies and ideologues take issue with this universal human behavior.

Doug

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 8:31 p.m.

I'd hire one of these young ladies in a minute as long as their resume' reflected a bright, energetic, skilled background. Good looking people have an edge when job hunting.

Atticus F.

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.

News Flash!: Men are attracted to women, men are aroused by nude women, and arousal is a nutural part of our existance...If that offends you, then maybe you should curse god.

genetracy

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 6:57 p.m.

All 10 members of the local NOW chapter will not be happy.

mohomed

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 5:20 p.m.

Go Blue!

BhavanaJagat

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 5:14 p.m.

Identity and Individuality : Playboy presents human Identity by simply uncovering the Individual. I seek to know the Individuality of the Individual. The physical form, the morphological appearance and the visual Identity of the Individual changes during the entire course of Individual's Life and it is the Individuality which exists unchanged. Identity and Individuality represent the two faces of the same coin. We use terms like Phenotype and Genotype to know the human person. The appearance changes while the genome retains its uniqueness, originality, and distinctiveness. Aristotle would define a thing as a composite of Form and Matter. The Form represents the actuality and the Matter represents the potentiality. We need to uncover the Spiritual Nature of this Matter to know and understand the real or true human person. <a href="http://bhavanajagat.com/2011/06/08/identity-and-individuality/" rel='nofollow'>http://bhavanajagat.com/2011/06/08/identity-and-individuality/</a>

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.

I'm all for this...come si...come sa... But, wasn't the university hammering people for similair behavior just recently?

Snehal Shah

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:29 p.m.

Have we really progressed? Women agreeing to be sex objects is as pathetic as it gets.

Snehal Shah

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 5:15 p.m.

And why were you waiting for such a comment?

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:20 p.m.

I was waiting for the ...let's cover them from head to toe comment....Oh well..guess I was wrong.

Usual Suspect

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:52 p.m.

&quot;Playboy producer Eden Orfanos said the magazine has already 'gotten a lot of really good buzz'&quot; &quot;Gotten?&quot; Well, you can tell it's not a literary magazine.

motorcycleminer

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.

In the real world a naked woman is consired art in OZ it's some obscene tongue depressor....DUH.....

glimmertwin

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:58 a.m.

Is Playboy even relevant any more? Was it ever?

RudeJude

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:54 p.m.

They do often have great articles, believe it or not, despite the magazine's waning relevance.

Craig Lounsbury

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:53 p.m.

I once knew a guy who knew a guy who's cousin supposedly read the articles....was that you G-Man?

Craig Lounsbury

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:51 p.m.

'relevant&quot; is a relative term i suppose. Once upon a time young lads all over America coveted a copy or two and hid them where mom and dad wouldn't find them. But that was a long long time ago....for me ;)

G-Man

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 12:47 p.m.

I always bought it to read the articles.......

G-Man

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 11:14 p.m.

Are they selling tickets to the auditions? Count me in.....

Arborcomment

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:52 p.m.

Moderator. Just for fun, is it in your power to switch the pictures for this and the International Women's Day story? Thanks.

ddjames

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:50 p.m.

Once again women--even the educated ones-- are good for one thing in a man's world. Why women continue to allow themselves to be used in this way is beyond me. And it's getting worse. Before it was just about men not respecting us...now we don't even respect ourselves. Calling one another the B word is now considered a compliment and completely acceptable. The normal has become abnormal and the abnormal normal. Where will it end? Unfortunately, I don't think it will.

RudeJude

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:49 p.m.

What is normal again?

Homeland Conspiracy

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:13 a.m.

The B word? Beautiful?

javajolt1

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:05 p.m.

What do you think of Playboy coming to U-M? Great! I want to try out. It's cool, but it's not for me. I'm undecided. No way. I wish they'd leave Ann Arbor out of the picture Seriously? Who thinks up these responses that are apparently supposed to be coming from our on lips. Dumb!

Cash

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:53 p.m.

Excellent Question. You go to the poll, expecting to give a reasonable answer....but there is no reasonable choice. And if they are supposed to be funny, they fail.

Doug

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.

When you've got it, flaunt it!

russellr

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.

It's to bad women don't have better morals!!

jns131

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.

Does this go hand in hand with the sensitive man thing that came out a while ago?

Kbombbilly

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:37 p.m.

You're forgetting about the men who buy the magazine. Who's worse - those who do it, or those who approve of it?

RudeJude

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.

Seriously, because the handful of women who will appear in this issue represent the moral mindset of every one of the billions of women on this planet. Kudos, good sir.

Bonsai

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.

hard to believe this is the most important news coming out of UM today

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:15 p.m.

It's better than what we've been exposed to lately...assaults, robberies, pedo's...etc

jns131

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:51 p.m.

Uh, actually they are still toying with that one issue about certain things found on certain computers? I guess they are trying to skirt the issue with something new.

mun

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.

...But this is still not as bad as Bongz and Thongz, right?

Kbombbilly

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.

It's International Women's Day and this is how we mark it?? How sad.

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:14 p.m.

Luv the GRIN!!! jns

jns131

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:50 p.m.

Big grin here. Score one for Womens Lib.

ArthGuinness

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:32 p.m.

Yes. The Obama Administration has declared that we will mark International Women's Day by having a Playboy shoot of Big Ten schools. Get a grip, Kbombbilly. Sexuality is actually normal and natural. We wouldn't even exist without it.

Roger Kuhlman

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:47 p.m.

Cool if you want to do it. If you don't that is cool too. What I can't understand is the intense prudishness that comes from some quarters about appearing naked.

Elaine F. Owsley

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:35 p.m.

Their mothers will be so proud!!! I suppose the long range effect on their job hunt is something they should consider.

bedrog

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 9:11 p.m.

in principal i agree with elaine re. indiscreet deliberate exposure on various media and possible adverse job impact. But PLAYBOY ( and gloria steinem was once a bunny at the mansion!) is probably far less potentially dangerous than the exhibitionistic use of things like 'facebook' and 'twitter' as any number of middle east dissidents could tell you. That some local ones of particulary creepy---and narcisssistic-- intent do too is also not to their service (although it is to these who keep an eye on them ).

Jake C

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.

I'm pretty sure the &quot;long range effect on their job hunt&quot; is exactly why most of these girls use pseudonyms when posing. So a company can't just do a preliminary candidate screening and see nude pics pop up as Google Result #1. And if an interviewer recognizes them during a face-to-face job interview? Looks like they just found someone who reads Playboy, so they'd probably consider it a plus.

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.

I suppose it depends on what kind of job they are looking for eh?

RudeJude

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:39 p.m.

Meh. It's Playboy. It'll only prevent these ladies from getting jobs at places they'd never send a resume to anyway.

RudeJude

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:30 p.m.

&quot;Girls of the Big Ten?&quot; Sure, but when is the &quot;Girls of the MAC&quot; issue going to be out?

mun

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 10:12 p.m.

As a Western Michigan grad, I concur.

trespass

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:21 p.m.

I suggest a major pictorial featuring President Coleman!

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.

Ok...now you're living up to your name my man...LOL! My brain is stained!

smokeblwr

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:12 p.m.

I can't wait to read the articles! I bet their major turnoffs are &quot;rude people&quot;.

Homeland Conspiracy

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:09 a.m.

Turn On's... Platinum Cards

nowayjose

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:05 p.m.

Wooooo Whooooooo!!!!!!!

Macabre Sunset

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.

March 15, huh? Beware the Nudes of March.

jns131

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:48 p.m.

Isn't that near the naked mile run date?

HardWorker

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:50 p.m.

Bummer! This will keep encouraging the &quot;princess beauty&quot; attitudes in town ... like there's not enough already.

Jaime

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.

I am a bit torn on this one. I don't know why any intelligent person would want to participate but on the other hand we have too many hang ups about these kind of things. So, if its your thing and you don't care what happens with those photos in the future, go for it.

Simon

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:55 p.m.

ever had to pay student loans?

Lk

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:23 p.m.

If this is such an exciting honor for these girls, why do they need to use pseudonyms????

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:11 p.m.

...so psycho's on AA.com forums don't stalk them?

jns131

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:47 p.m.

Because if as Bill Cosby once said it so plainly, if their parents find out? They will take them out. Trust me, if I found mine did it? I am sure I would have to hog tie her father.

pooh bear

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.

I hope they ask them about birth control.

A2D2

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:09 p.m.

Q: what do you call a pretty girl on the MSU campus? A: a visitor

Clyde Kadiddlehogger

Sat, Mar 10, 2012 : 8:24 p.m.

The debate rages on. Decades ago when I was a lad at UM I agreed with Eyeheart. My theory was that the pretty girls were popular in high school and that overcame their academic success and thus they went to MSU. Now though I believe that has changed drastically over the years.

Steve

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 10:22 p.m.

@ EveHeartA2 There is a certain probability of being attractive. There is a certain probability of being intelligent. The odds of being both are pretty slim and U of M only selects for one.

shutthefrtdoor

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.

@EyeHeart...dude...I laughed so hard I snorted when I watched those clips!!! I'm copying to paste for my &quot;wall-michigan fans&quot;...thanks

EyeHeartA2

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.

Shut up!, or I'll see you at the bike rack. Plus, my dad can beat up your dad.

RudeJude

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.

lol, I love local news sites for this kind of of middle school boy banter from, I'm assuming, middle-aged men.

SMC

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 9:46 p.m.

The mere suggestion that UofM has prettier girls than MSU is laughable.

EyeHeartA2

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:57 p.m.

I always thought the standard joke was 9/10 girls in the big 10 are good looking, and the tenth one goes to Michigan. Anyway, I'm shocked that anybody on these boards is questioning MSU's v UM on this front. MSU blows UMs doors off in this regard. Sort of like UM blows MSUs doors off on every other front. <a href="http://www.notsopuremichigan.com/?p=207" rel='nofollow'>http://www.notsopuremichigan.com/?p=207</a> <a href="http://www.notsopuremichigan.com/?p=126" rel='nofollow'>http://www.notsopuremichigan.com/?p=126</a>

Joe Wood

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:35 p.m.

Well then, &quot;It's true that in East Lansing they milk the cows. But in Ann Arbor they marry them.&quot; Hey you started it!

A2D2

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:07 p.m.

they may want to re-think the Michigan State shoot..........

Usual Suspect

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.

Fewer hairy armpits at MSU than UofM, though.

zeeba

Thu, Mar 8, 2012 : 8:15 p.m.

Actually, the 2008 shoot had seven Spartans and just three Wolverines - so it would seem the MSU gals were a lot hotter. Probably more comfortable with their bodies and sexuality as well.