Perhaps someone e-mailed you the link to the faux CNN page on Tuesday too. “France Declares War on the United States,” the headline proclaimed.
“It scared me to death,” said sophomore Lily Rosenman, who received the fake address in an instant message from her friend. “I thought a world war had broken out! I was about to call my parents.”
But a click on the link to the full story resulted in relief. A text box popped up: “April Fools! Now get back to work.”
“For a second there my whole life flashed before my eyes,” Rosenman joked.
The bogus CNN page declared other breaking news sub-headlines including “Suicide Bomber Commits Suicide” and “Great Property in Baghdad: realtor.com,” as well as a feature on Saddam’s beret.
Yet the most notable hoax to occur on campus involved three students who took turns throughout the day wearing a giant white rabbit suit.
“We started planning this over spring break,” sophomore Sam Quintal, one of the above mentioned three, said. “A lot of it wasn’t planned, but we just played it by ear.”
The bunny started out in Elyria where it was picked up at a costume store and worn back to Oberlin. It then proceeded to participate in a string quartet playing Bach in the Conservatory Lounge. Sophomore Blaise Freeman, another of the three to wear the suit at some time during the day, played the cello in the quartet naked.
Later that afternoon, a large cardboard box was set up in Tappan Square with clothes strewn about it, advertised as free. Passersby who attempted to pick up the clothing were squirted with a water gun, and those who actually ventured to look inside the box were chased by the giant rabbit.
Later that afternoon, the bunny was asked by a woman who pulled her car over to come and play with her child. Which he did. “He had fun doing that,” stated Quintal.
The bunny rode piggy back through a prospective student tour, threw candy on Main Street, temporarily kidnapped a Tank resident and later fought with Freeman outside Tank. “He lost his head during the fight,” said Quintal.
The bunny finished up the day attending an OSCA meeting at Harkness and later that night was spotted dancing at the ’Sco.