Two Smith College professors have been pulling pranks on students for years. Their latest stunt: telling students the school would only be serving local vegetarian food.

Introductory logic classes on campus simulated the hoax to promote public debate on campus. The two professors behind the prank were Jim Henle and Jay Garfield, and they have been pulling stunts like this for a dozen years now.

In previous years, the professors have spread rumors about the cancellation of intramural sports on campus and Smith College sponsoring the J. Crew clothing line. This year’s rumors similarly affected the all-female student body.

‘There were students who were excited and in favor of going ‘locavore’ (eating only local food) vegetarian. Lots of students were excited but opposed,’ Henle said. ‘Some thought the debate wasn’t real. Some didn’t even know it was going on.’

The purpose of these rumors has always been to engage the whole campus in ‘rational civil discourse,’ Garfield said. Students in the class agree on a controversial topic and begin discussing it with classmates outside of class. These rumors continue to spread by word of mouth, through social media and chalking on sidewalks.

In general, the students in the Logic 100 classes enjoy the pranks very much, said Henle, and the reaction is mixed among other students. Upperclassmen familiar with the pranks of the past are usually amused or annoyed, and new students typically find it exciting, he said.

Even the administration got a kick out of this rumor, Garfield said. Most years, Henle and Garfield do not consult the administration with their ideas, but this year was different. The school board was informed so that it could brace itself for potential student backlash. Despite the complaints, Smith College administrators played along with the prank.

Garfield and Henle do not want people to remember these pranks as a class’ attempt to ruffle feathers. Although Henle said there never was a real question of whether Smith College would go vegetarian, the spread of these fictitious accounts was driven by a very real motivation. The professors strongly emphasized that this attempt was not just for fun. The rumors had a far deeper purpose than that.

‘It’s not a prank, it’s a way to teach logic, a way not only to teach in the classroom but in the entire campus,’ said Garfield. ‘We are trying to show that logic is a fun and attractive thing to do.’

Henle and Garfield repeat this exercise every year because they said they feel it successfully involves individuals on campus in a larger public discussion. Conversation between students and faculty increased because of rumors regarding dining hall changes. Over time, students also find new outlets in which to engage their peers, like Facebook.

The professors said they hope this assignment helps students realize the importance of addressing major issues. By creating a fictitious scenario to provoke student responses, Henle and Garfield were encouraging a young generation accused of tiptoeing around big problems.

‘Part of this has been lost. This is what I call logic outreach. There are some issues that people don’t want to debate,’ Henle said. ‘The long-term goal of this exercise is to allow debate, show that it’s fun, toy with ideas and open up the campus to a freer expression of ideas.’

asmuckel@syr.edu

Published on November 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Andrew: asmuckel@syr.edu