The following post is an attempt to open the discussion on pranks performed here at Summit Pacific College within the last semester.

Pranks as a whole are fun. Their intent, for the prankster, is to relieve stress, or cause laughter on the behalf of the prankee. Maybe also, a prank is a thorn in the side, or a deviation from the everyday norm. I like pranks.

Namely, these pranks in question are: "Backwards Chapel Pews", "Vaselined Door Handles" and "SPC Annual Car Show".

Firstly, the "Backwards Chapel Pews" prank. This prank, performed middle of March, still remains unclaimed by any individual or group (at least to public knowledge). Many are quick to point fingers, and suggest some key individuals, and others have incriminating photos on their computer desktops.

I'll admit, I had a good laugh walking in the chapel Tuesday morning only to find eveyrone congregated in the foyer, yapping away, while a few men hauled the pews up and around so the service would go as planned.

Becuase this prank remains unclaimed, the entire student body has been fined for the "re-fixation" of the pews to the floor on their pegs. Twenty dollars per student.

Next is the "Vaselined Door Handles" prank. April First, who can resist? Some door handles were smeared with vaseline. I heard, but did not see, that other various objects were vaselined. This is kinda funny since all you want to do is open the door, but can't, or it's plain just too yucky.

This prank, also unclaimed, also cost the entire student body. You guessed it, another $20 per student. It's getting lame. In fact, pay me $20 and I'll wash all the door handles! Why are they rolling in over $4,000? The prank in itself is funny, but its welcome is tainted by the aftermath of the "Backwards Chapel Pews" prank.

Lastly, is this morning's "SPC Annual Car Show" prank. I sincerely hope that this is not an annual happening. Between 3am and 5am about a dozen cars were moved from the Holdcroft residence parking lot to the P.S. Jones parking lot. Some cars were broken into. The cops were called. We're talking grand theft auto.

But alas, the culprits confessed their crime, and its intended good nature, and in return offer to wash the stolen cars. Poor timing? Yes. Theft isn't funny around here. We've see a lot of laptops go missing, and a friend of mine tells me of various tools and other trinkets gone missing from his room. Also, it's stress season and nobody wants to find that their car is missing.

Good job keeping this prank tasteful and in good community, but bad timing. I'm thankful they didn't take my car, or I would have lost it. Lost my cool and my salvation.

I agree that this school needs to lighten up sometimes. We've become this pretensious group of yuppies who scoff at anything remotely funny. Pranks, when tasteful, may acheive this goal: to remember we are all human and we all need to laugh.

Maybe we've seen enough pranks for the year? I hope so. You can tell by the attitude of the institution that there is no tolerance for tasteless pranks. They don't even offer warning now; any unclaimed prank assesses the student body a $20 fine each.

Here's an idea: why don't you fill someone's office with balloons? Balloons make people happy; they're associated with happy times, celebratory times. Not only does it brighten the day, but someone get's to pop roughly 750 balloons! How great would that be?