The Moses Award:
Calvin's Award for Practical Joking
 The Moses Award encourages the college's long tradition
of intelligent and creative pranks and practical jokes. The current $30.00
endowment allows for an annual cash prize of $1.80, though it is hoped
that contributions to the endowment will in future years allow for more
generous awards. The winner will also receive an elegant reproduction
of a gargoyle like one of these:
The award is given to members of the Calvin College community responsible
for outstanding contributions to campus levity. Students, faculty, staff,
and alumni are eligible.
 The award began in 1993. There have been several
previous Moses Award winners.
To the considerable distress of the awards committee, few suitable pranks
have been perpetrated in recent years. Two pranks received honorable mentions
in 1997. Things were dull until 2005, when an as yet unknown group amusingly
relocated campus signs.
All pranks or practical jokes entered in the contest should meet certain
basic standards:
- They should display intelligent creativity and bring a significant
amount of mirth or good cheer to the Calvin community.
- They should cause no undue physical damage or expense to persons or
property. Thirty years ago a Calvin student was electrocuted while attempting
a prank. The committee will be distressed if this award encourages ill-conceived
pranks. Pranksters should remember that it can be considerably more
fun to cause mischief than to pay for repairing it!
- They should avoid meanness or cruelty. Those planning pranks should
consider what harm or pain their pranks might cause, and if in doubt,
come up with a better idea.
Entries displaying a Reformed world and life view will receive special
commendation.
Entries should consist of a description of the prank or practical joke
and any available supporting evidence. The judge will welcome videos,
when possible, of entries.
Prizes will be awarded as they are merited. Entries will be judged
by the Moses Committee, which consists of Randy Bytwerk (CAS Department).
Sure it's a small committee — but its decisions are always unanimous.
If necessary, confidentiality will be maintained.
For the details on the most elaborate series of pranks in Calvin's history,
see the story of the wandering cheese.
The tradition of creative pranks is well-established at Calvin, but we
fall far short of the masters of the art at places like Cal Tech and MIT.
Many of the best pranks
at MIT are described at their web site. There is also a book
on the matter, titled Nightwork:
A History of Hacks and Pranks at MIT (Cambridge: MIT
Press, 2003).
Another good source is Neil Steinberg's wonderful book If
at All Possible, Involve a Cow: The Book of College Pranks
(New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992).
And you might find a list of great April
Fools Day pranks interesting.
On the other hand, a wide range of pranks that mostly would not win the
Moses Award is available at the Prank
Institute web site.
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