Phylis Syd. (Photo courtesy of Playboy Magazine.)

MONTREAL -- Already reeling from a college football hazing scandal and burdened by a reputation as Canada's leading "party school," officials at McGill University are now bracing for the impact of a Playboy magazine pictorial.

Available on newsstands tomorrow, the magazine includes McGill among the "top ten party schools" in North America. Ten million American readers of Playboy will see a side of the Montreal institution that some students and teachers find disturbing.

'AN HONOUR'

Phylis Syd (not her real name), who is studying political science at McGill, said she's proud to represent the university in the pages of the famous men's magazine.

Brynn and Madison in the current issue of Playboy. (Photo courtesy of Playboy Magazine.)

"Playboy is such an icon. It's a chance, an honour for me, to be in this magazine," the 24-year-old said.

Syd was among 50 McGill students who participated in a photo shoot held last fall at a hotel in downtown Montreal.

Adam Conter, president of the student association, dismisses McGill's reputation as a party school, suggesting Playboy added the university for purely commercial reasons.

"It's an excellent means for Playboy to sell the magazine in Montreal," he said.

Student Melanie Zwetkow said the article "degrades" the university, adding she doesn't understand how McGill got such a reputation for revelry.

EMBARRASSMENT?

The Playboy article is the latest embarrassment for the prestigious Montreal school.

Last fall McGill cancelled its football season because of hazing incidents involving rookies.

In February, Le Journal de Montreal published photos of students involved in drinking contests and stripping during a winter carnival event.