Bored students do silly things.  In Goshen College’s 125 years, students have used pranks as a creative outlet for their rebellious desires and youthful angst. But not all pranks are created equal. From soap suds in the fountain to ruminants in residence halls, college pranks vary in complexity, originality and tact.  In his 34 years working for the Physical Plant as the director of facilities at Goshen College, Glenn Gilbert has witnessed and dealt with the aftermath of dozens, if not hundreds, of student pranks. Joe Springer, curator of the Mennonite Historical Library since 1986 and alumnus of the class...

By Gabe Miller • November 1, 2019 • Features

When first-year students come to Goshen College, they receive complementary iPads loaded with apps to access class content, email, shared servers and a sneaky purple dinosaur. Peter Miller, a GC graduate and information technology employee, added a purple dinosaur graphic to the bottom of the iPad email app as a prank before any first-years received their iPads. The dinosaur was only visible when the user scrolled down, and as soon as the finger released the scroll, the dinosaur disappeared. Strategies for sneakily showing the dinosaur had to be revised several times. The purple dinosaur lasted for several weeks before a...

By Isaac Fast • December 7, 2013 • Features

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed pranks. I get some sort of sick bliss out of watching people unknowingly step into trouble orchestrated by me. I don’t even mind it so much when others succeed in pranking me. It gives me a (perhaps false) feeling of belonging, which helps fill the insecure cracks of my personality. I spent three years of my childhood living on the campus of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary as my father studied to become a master of divinity. One of my most vivid memories from this time revolves around tomfoolery. I discovered a...

By Matthew Amstutz • February 23, 2012 • Features