"Folklore of Student Life" holds the accumulated wisdom and wit of several IU undergraduate classes and of a good many IU undergraduates, all focused upon the folklore -- those shared avenues of creativity and expression -- that is part of the college experience at Indiana University. This website is a joint production of Prof John McDowell and his students in a number of undergraduate classes
Text 3 A chemist walks into a pharmacy and asks the pharmacist, “Do you have any acetylsalicylic acid?” “You mean aspirin?” asked the pharmacist. “That’s it, I can never remember that word.” Context: From David Shay’s “Workjoke.com”. URL: http://www.workjoke.com/
Greek Families: Text 1 Contributor: Megan Colleen Hillier Informant: Melissa Hudson Title: Theta Mom’s Night Semester/Year: Fall 2005 “I do believe we went on a scavenger hunt ‘cause it wasn’t like, oh let’s all sit down in the rec. room Continue Reading …
Conversation 3: Another story about the Showalter Fountain is told in this way. This setting also takes place at my job on the same day (Wednesday the 28th) at around 5:30 when I asked had anybody heard the story of Continue Reading …
Text 2 Contributor: Reggie Watson Informant: Steve Head Title: The Shower Gag Semester/year: Fall, 2005 Instructor: John McDowell This next practical joke was told by my roommate Steve Head. He told it more like a story so I wasn’t able Continue Reading …
Conversation 2: “The Showalter Fountain” Tracy: “I need to find some legends about this campus.” Tanya: “Tell about the legend of the mermaid in the fountain. You’ve heard the story right?” Tracy: Um, refresh my memory.” Tanya: “My friend told Continue Reading …
Today, people in my classes were talking about a ghost that haunts the Career Development Center. They were saying that if you basement late night you can hear him moving around upstairs. Another student then said there is a ghost Continue Reading …
Text 1 Contributor: Lindsey Hughes Informant: Joseph Turner Title: “The Fortune Cookie” Date: First Semester, 2005 “I planned a birthday dinner for my girlfriend at a Chinese Restaurant. I invited her parents to come along as well. Earlier that day, Continue Reading …
Tracy’s campus legends Conversation 1: “The Chapel” Tracy: “Hey guys, have any of you heard any IU campus legends?” Suzanne: “Um, yeah I’ve heard some but I can’t think of any right now”. Mike: “There is one about the heating Continue Reading …
Contemporary computer lore: Text 1 Contributor: Jennifer Harber Informants: http://www.computerjokes.net/050.htm; By: Alam Saeed Title: The 12 Bugs of Christmas Semester/ Year: Fall 2005 For the first bug of Christmas, my manager said to me See if they can do it Continue Reading …
Reggie’s current practical jokes: Text 1 Contributor: Reggie Watson Informant: Tony Tevis Title: Sleep Tight Semester/year: Fall, 2005 Instructor: John McDowell Me: Ok so what is your practical joke that you pulled off? Tony: Ok this one is mean as Continue Reading …