The next time you see the pretty girl you sit by in class, she may not be wearing any clothes.

“Playboy” magazine is coming to Dallas next week looking for SMU women to be in its “Girls of the Conference USA” pictorial.

“There are a lot of beautiful women in Texas, and we’re encouraging everyone who’s eligible to try out,” said Theresa Hennessey, Playboy publicity manager. “We’re looking for that girl next door appeal, and no previous modeling experience is necessary.”

The audition is open to any female at a Conference USA school that is at least 18 years of age. Applicants will have to bring paperwork to prove both requirements for photographers.

The audition is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 24, at an off campus location. Hennessey said the auditions are usually held at a hotel, but wouldn’t disclose the exact location to protect the privacy of the women participating.

At the auditions, women will pose for photos in a two-piece bathing suit or lingerie.

After the two days of auditions, there will be a round of callbacks, and those selected will have their pictures taken for the spread.

“It all takes place in a week,” said Hennessey.

“Playboy” anticipates about 50-100 women to attend the audition, and photographers will choose five or six women for the magazine.

“If there are a lot of strong candidates, they’ll shoot more,” Hennessey said.

She added the photographs will be tasteful.

“They’re classy pictures, and its whatever the girls are comfortable with,” said Hennessey. “The photos will be taken in a way that makes the girls feel most comfortable.”

Hennessey said the magazine has not received any complaints from the SMU administration, mainly because the auditions are held off campus and the women participating are doing it on their own time.

“I myself am not a fan of ‘Playboy,’ however I respect the right of women to make that choice,” said Dean of Student Life Dee Siscoe. “I wish that would not be something our women would be interested in.”

SMU is taking a far more hands off approach to the “Playboy” auditions than other private universities.

In 2002, Baylor punished more than 50 students and suspended the school’s Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter for participating in “Playboy’s” “Girls of the Big 12” pictorial, citing the university’s student handbook that said students are expected to conduct themselves “in accordance with Christian principles as commonly perceived by Texas Baptists. Personal misconduct either on or off the campus by anyone connected with Baylor detracts from the Christian witness Baylor strives to present to the world and hinders full accomplishment of the mission of the university.”

Baylor made similar warnings in April 2006, when the magazine returned for an updated edition of the Big 12 spread.

Siscoe said she did not know of any regulation in the SMU Code of Conduct that would result in sanctions for SMU women participating in the audition or pictorial, but questioned how many students would be interested in participating.

“I don’t see our students being interested in participating in this, but I could be wrong,” Siscoe said.

Women’s Center Director Karen Click said “Playboy” is degrading to women.

“Magazines such as ‘Playboy’ seem to objectify women,” Click said. “It can affect how people can relate and communicate and how we view them as members of society.”

Click added viewing women solely for their physical attributes doesn’t show them as intellectuals. She said the distorted images in “Playboy” present a false standard of beauty and are the cause of many eating disorders and sexual assaults.

“It affects women on so many levels,” Click said.

While Click is not in favor of women participating, she did say she understands the allure of it.

“There is something to be said about national exposure,” she said.

The May 2007 issue won’t be the first time an SMU student is featured in the magazine. In 2003 SMU graduate Amber Campisi was featured in “Playboy’s” 50th anniversary model search and was later featured as “Miss February 2005.”

Campisi said she loved the experience, because it afforded her many opportunities to travel, network and promote her family’s restaurant, Campisi’s.

“I wasn’t trying to be a model or actress, it was just something fun to do,” Campisi said. “But if you’re wanting to be a model or actress, it’s a great way to get some exposure.”

Since appearing in the magazine, Campisi does promotional events for “Playboy” at least once a week, and has an open invitation for she and her friends to go to the Playboy Mansion.

“Just no boys,” she said.

Campisi said the photo shoots are fun and “really comfortable.” She said she wasn’t self-conscious taking the pictures because the photography staff was so accommodating.

Campisi said Playboy head Hugh Hefner looks for women who have good personalities and fit the “girl next door” image.

Student reaction is mixed about the pictorial.

“There are probably a lot of people here that would do it, there are a lot of pretty girls that make bad decisions,” said first-year Chelsea Wells.

“I don’t want people to see me naked. My boyfriend wouldn’t be very happy about it. Or my mom, or my grandmother, or my pastor,” said first-year Kelsey Howard.

SMU men were more open to the idea.

“SMU is stacked with beautiful women, so it’s a cool place to go for this,” said first-year Robert Blair, who added there was a “100 percent chance” he would buy the magazine when it hits newsstands.

“What if they lived in my hall or something like that?” Blair said.

Women who are interested in participating can go to www.playboy.com/pose or call 312-401-7343 to schedule an audition.