War at Pennsylvania

One sunny morning last week a banner headline across Page 1 of the Daily Pennsylvanian (undergraduate paper of the University of Pennsylvania) shrieked: ALL UNIVERSITIES MOBILIZED ON WARTIME BASIS

The front page was blanketed with war. Said one story: "Simultaneously with the vote by Congress at 7 o'clock last night ... to declare the U. S. on a wartime basis, the University has been organized as a military post under command of Major Blank, commandant of the Third University Division." Another: "Registration for the University draft will begin today with the calling of all students and faculty between . . . 18 and 25 whose last names range from A-E."

Three undergraduate editors had concocted the hoax. They said on the editorial page: "Today's front page . . is the best argument we can give against war. ... In black on white . . . you can see just what war will mean to you. . . .

We hope you are stunned. . . ." Nonetheless :

> At Houston Hall, headquarters of a mythical military commission, 20-odd boys reported to register for the "draft."

> Omar Rocha, a sophomore from Monterrey, Mexico, packed his bags, called a cab, prepared to leave for home.

> A substitute varsity back called two friends at Philadelphia's City Hall, begged them to get him "a soft berth" in the Army's Quartermaster Depot.

> Student Chandler Weeks telephoned his girl long distance to Chicago, proposed immediate marriage (no success).

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