MIT Prank Is More Serious This Year
Each year students and alumni at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology use the top of the school’s 150-foot high Great Dome, a central feature on the campus, as the focus for pranks — known as “hacks” — since at least the 1920s. In 1994 what looked like a real MIT campus police cruiser appeared on top of the Great Dome, complete with flashing lights and a box of donuts on the front seat. The car, numbered “pi,” had a sign in the back window that read: “I brake for donuts.” In 1996 the dome had been dressed up as a red-and-white beanie with a blue propeller. In 2003 a replica of the Wright brothers’ plane appeared on the dome to commemorate the 100th anniversary of flight. Even though students and alumni are responsible for putting up the elaborate items each year on the Great Dome, the school itself assumes responsibility for removing the items. Fortunately, those responsible for putting them there in the first place are considerate enough to leave detailed instructions with MIT’s administration on the best method of dismantling the pranks.
This last Monday, the hack for this year was revealed in the form of a 25-foot-long fire truck with the phrase “memininum,” Latin for “we remember,” painted on the truck’s side. A coiled rope dangled from the side of the “truck,” completing the emergency vehicle look. It is assumed that it was intended to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the September 11th terrorists attacks.
A tip o’ the hat to those brainy folks at MIT who have a sense of humor, a sense of responsibility, a sense of consideration and a sense of honor to pull such a prank…pardon me, “hack”…and to pay tribute to those who perished on 9/11. Kudos.
A big welcome to readers from Stop The ACLU’s Friday Free-For-All. Also welcome to readers from Publius Rendezvous‘ Open Trackback Weekend.