Students make plans for April Fool's Day

Due to increasing pressure from University students and staff, in honor of Good Friday, all of tomorrow's classes have been canceled.

April Fool's!

April 1 once again marks the annual holiday of pranks, tricks and shenanigans and University students have their creative juices flowing to come up with classic April Fool's Day stunts.

"I'm going to penny my friend's door," LSA first-year student Greg Flermoen said. "You get three or four pennies and you can stick them in someone's door just right to lock them in their room.

"This kid always plays practical jokes on everyone so it's time he got a taste of his own medicine," he said.

CHRIS CAMPERNEL/Daily Employees of the Gifts & Gags store located on Washtenaw Ave. model different gags yesterday.

Some students have even more elaborate plans.

LSA first-year student Nick Salvagione said he and some of his friends plan to dress in masks and black clothing and carry fake knives to trick his roommate.

"We're going to go into my room when my roommate is sleeping and pretend to rob him," Salvagione said. "We just bought the knives today and we have our costumes all planned out. I can't wait to see how he reacts when he wakes up. Hopefully he won't beat the hell out of us."

Salvagione is not the only prankster using props to aid in his April Fool's Day pranks.

"We definitely have an increase in sales a couple days before and especially the day of April Fool's Day," said Eva Cruz, the manager of Gags & Gifts located on Washtenaw Ave.

Cruz said customers' favorite items include fart and sourmouth flavored candy and whoopi cushions.

"This year, our most popular item has been gag lottery tickets," Cruz said. "They cost $2 and they're all $2,000 winners."

While April Fool's jokes are fun for those who organize them, being on the other side of a prank isn't always as exciting.

"Last year I was in a hurry to get to a class I had a quiz in but I wanted to take a quick shower beforehand," Engineering sophomore Matt Pilarski said. "While I was in the shower my friend came in and took all my stuff - my towel, my clothes - everything."

Pilarski stepped out of the shower and planned to run to his room before anyone could see him. But when he got there, his room was locked.

"It was humiliating," said Pilarski. "A bunch of people came out of the room next door laughing hysterically. They gave me my towel but I was still pissed. I can laugh about it now."

Because of all the tricks played on April Fool's Day, it is easy for people to become paranoid that every issue they encounter is a holiday gag.

"Last year I got accepted into U of M on April Fool's Day," SNRE first-year student Josh Nucian said. "I didn't know if it was a joke or not."

"I do something for April Fool's Day every year," said Salvagione. "I don't know how you can not participate."

Although a number of students take advantage of April Fool's Day, many may not know how it began.

April 1 was New Year's Day until 1562, when Pope Gregory created the modern calendar. But lack of communication left many citizens unaware of the change, so they continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1.

Those who were more enlightened ridiculed the others by calling them "April fools" and playing tricks on them.

"It doesn't really matter how April Fool's Day got started," Pilarski said. "I'm just glad it's still around."

04-01-99