Student prank

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Students are often stereotypically associated with childish pranks and jokes.

University students have a long association with pranks and japes.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] These can often involve petty crime, such as the theft of traffic cones and other public property,^[6] or hoaxes.^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16] In fact, practical jokes play such a significant part in student culture that numerous books have been published that solely focus on the issue of student pranks.^[17]^[18]

In some university towns, misbehaviour on the part of students became such an issue that a report has been released which studies the issue. The report, Studentification: A Guide to Opportunities, Challenges and Practice, by Universities UK, focuses on six British universities as case studies.

[edit] Theft

Statistics show that one in five students is in possession of a stolen traffic cone. ^[19] In fact, the issue of the theft and misuse of traffic cones by students has gained enough prominence that a spokesperson from the National Union of Students has been forced to argue that "stereotypes of students stealing traffic cones" are "outdated".^[20]

Some universities have gone as far as to devote entire pages of legislation and advice for students with regards to the consequences and laws involving the theft of traffic cones.^[21] Misuse of traffic cones in Scotland has even resulted in serious physical injury.^[22]

A recent report by Student Direct claims that the theft of traffic cones in the greater Manchester area is at an all time high.^[23]

The traffic cone theft issue came to such a head in the 1990s that it was brought up in parliament. ^[24]

In 2002, Fife Constabulary declared a "traffic cone amnesty" allowing University of St. Andrews students to return stolen traffic cones without fear of prosecution. A police spokesman had said that the theft of traffic cones had become "an almost weekly occurrence". ^[25]