What was I thinking, scheduling an early-Friday-morning class? While I've vowed never to do that again, this past week made waking up early worth the effort. In future years, I encourage each Penn State student to roll out of bed a little early on Nov. 1. The loss of sleep will be worth it, when you're able to witness a bumblebee with crumpled wings trying to rush back to her dorm before sunrise. Or maybe you'll be able to spot a cowgirl who actually looks as if she's been riding a horse all night long.

The infamous "walk of shame" is more embarrassing after Halloween. While some can get by wearing their party clothes home on any other morning and remain virtually unnoticed, Halloween eliminates this option completely. But I couldn't help but wonder, as I saw an angel and a devil scurry by: Why wouldn't these women get cabs or borrow clothes from the individuals with which they spent their evening?

Maybe the right conclusion is that women just don't care anymore. This conclusion was validated for me as I walked past Crowbar this weekend. As sets of breasts popped out from beneath schoolgirl costumes, I only had a moment before a cameraman shoved a consent form in my face and asked if I would be willing to bare my perky twins for the guy's latest video.

Slightly buzzed from the night's earlier events, I actually took a moment to consider the man's request. But with my parents' innate ability to find out about everything "wild" I do; the fact that my younger cousin is reaching the age when he can check out these videos; and the gentleman accompanying me that night, screaming, "She's not interested!" -- I luckily missed my opportunity to increase Penn State's party school ranking.

Looking back, I'm glad I made the decision not to bare my boobies, as I think there should be some discrimination about who should and shouldn't get to view such a private part of me. Plus, I don't know if I could have handled the idea of men my father's age being able to purchase "Girls Gone Wild: The Perks of Going to PSU" and ogling my still teenage breasts. Thinking about this from a non-alcohol-induced viewpoint, I can't really see the point of this, when I wouldn't reap any of the benefits of having my body exposed to the world.

While actresses and porn stars make loads of money from this sort of thing, Penn State women only received a $10 T-shirt that they could have bought off the Internet -- not much reward compared to the amount of pleasure untold guys will be getting from watching their personal bunch of coconuts flying around downtown.

Let's pretend for a moment that you're one of the women who gave "informed consent," while falling down after a heavy night of drinking. You wonder if there's anything you can do about the actions you're beginning to regret. After all, while the crumpled-wing bumblebee only has a quick 15-minute walk to get through, you're worried that one night of rowdy behavior may follow you for a long time.

Your situation sounds like what happened to Florida State student Becky Lynn Gritzke. Instead of merely flashing her breasts at her school, she bared all while partying at Mardi Gras. Yes, people who strip in public forfeit their right to privacy. But because Ms. Gritzke was stumbling drunk at the time when she gave her consent to be taped, it's questionable whether the Girls Gone Wild producers should use her "content" in their newly released video to make a profit.

This case never actually made it to trial because a settlement was reached under which MRA Holdings LLC had to end distributing the video and all ads in which Ms. Gritzke's image appeared. The financial terms of the settlement weren't disclosed, but Ms. Gritzke succeeded in gaining back her own privacy.

Thinking about going to trial yourself? More than likely, it would prove to be unsuccessful. After Ms. Gritzke settled her case, other embarrassed women naturally tried the same litigation, only to be left unsatisfied with the results. Unless you're drinking alcohol on the tape, or falling down drunk, it's hard to prove that you were under the influence and unable to give informed consent. The reason Girls Gone Wild is taped at universities isn't because a 21-year-old is any hotter than a 17-year-old, but instead because of the legal problems with taping minors.

I've decided my first conclusion -- that women just don't care anymore -- is wrong. Instead, I think people may not be thinking about the consequences until they get home the next morning in that ripped-up cat costume or they see themselves on the latest TV spot for Girls Gone Wild.

There are obviously some women who laugh at the attention they get from doing a walk of shame, or flashing their boobs to the world, but for some of us, it's hard to draw the line where we can have as much fun as our male counterparts without worrying that an eager cameraman -- or anyone else, for that matter -- will take advantage of our lowered inhibitions.

In every situation, you have a moment when you can reflect on whether or not those actions are in your best interest. Sure, the walk of shame stories will haunt you, but not nearly as much as the hard evidence of videotape. Try and remember that while Ms. Gritzke was able to turn back time and cover up that scar in her life, not everyone gets that option.