(I lifted this directly from MIT; their students' pranks occasionally make the news on the east coast. Maybe Caltech has something similar?)
AHAHAHAHAHA YES. See: The Great Rose Bowl Hoax, also changing the Hollywood sign to read "Caltech." There are occasional prank wars between MIT and Caltech (Caltech is better). Dabney (my house) got disowned by the Dabney family in the 70s after hanging a sign reading "Impeach Nixon" off the 9-story library before a Presidential visit.
The rule was basically as long as you leave a note saying it's a prank (and nobody gets hurt) it's fine.
I feel really strongly about the collaboration aspect--because no scientist works alone, despite pop culture depictions of lone geniuses. So it's better to collaborate! Similarly, Caltech tests are all take-home, and you're expected to abide by time limits and materials (many tests are open book. the worst tests are "open-everything unlimited time"). It actually works, in large part because between the collaboration, the houses, and long tradition, there's a culture where it's okay to fail but it's not okay to cheat. THIS IS HOW SCIENCE SHOULD WORK.
Sorry, that is not really Panem-relevant, but I tend to get on my high horse about it because the Caltech administration is messing up this unique culture and it makes me really sad so I yell at every opportunity.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2015-02-18 09:24 pm (UTC)AHAHAHAHAHA YES. See: The Great Rose Bowl Hoax, also changing the Hollywood sign to read "Caltech." There are occasional prank wars between MIT and Caltech (Caltech is better). Dabney (my house) got disowned by the Dabney family in the 70s after hanging a sign reading "Impeach Nixon" off the 9-story library before a Presidential visit.
The rule was basically as long as you leave a note saying it's a prank (and nobody gets hurt) it's fine.
I feel really strongly about the collaboration aspect--because no scientist works alone, despite pop culture depictions of lone geniuses. So it's better to collaborate! Similarly, Caltech tests are all take-home, and you're expected to abide by time limits and materials (many tests are open book. the worst tests are "open-everything unlimited time"). It actually works, in large part because between the collaboration, the houses, and long tradition, there's a culture where it's okay to fail but it's not okay to cheat. THIS IS HOW SCIENCE SHOULD WORK.
Sorry, that is not really Panem-relevant, but I tend to get on my high horse about it because the Caltech administration is messing up this unique culture and it makes me really sad so I yell at every opportunity.