Exploits and Escapades in the Realm of Me, My Peer, and University Life
In the spirit of leprechaun mischief, Mack Hughes '25, the Chief Eggplant Editor, found himself in the spotlight during spring break. While the rest of the student body was soaking up the sun in The Bahamas and Florida, Hughes remained on campus.
Hughes' antics were intended to be lighthearted and humorous, but they started to cross lines. He began to engage in pranks that, while seemingly innocent, caused real damage. His pranks ranged from putting sticky notes all over his roommate's bed to replacing her medication with Tic Tacs, filling her shampoo bottle with hair removal, and even shrinking her clothes.
However, the most concerning of his pranks involved the release of anaconda snakes into the air vents in Hogan. This action, while seemingly harmless in a prank context, can have serious negative consequences.
Safety risks to people are a significant concern. Snakes released in air vents can cause panic, bites, or potentially dangerous encounters, especially if the species is venomous or large. Confined spaces like vents can make snake encounters unpredictable and hazardous for occupants.
Damage to infrastructure is another concern. Snakes inside vents can interfere with air flow systems, potentially causing mechanical damage or contamination, leading to costly repairs and disruption of campus facilities.
The ecological impact of such an action is also a concern. Introducing non-native or captive snakes into a new environment can disturb local ecosystems, threaten native wildlife, or spread diseases. Invasive snakes have been shown to cause cascading negative effects in ecosystems, consuming native species and disrupting food webs.
Legal consequences are also a possibility. Releasing wildlife, including snakes, into areas where they are not native or where their presence is prohibited often violates local, state, or federal wildlife laws. This can lead to penalties, fines, or criminal charges, especially if the species is protected or endangered.
Animal welfare issues are also a concern. Releasing snakes in unsuitable environments like air vents can cause suffering or death to the snakes themselves due to lack of food, shelter, or exposure to hazards.
Despite these concerns, Mack Hughes '25 is not allergic to eggplants. In fact, the eggplant goulash recipe, which has been passed down in his family, will be featured at The Eggplant's upcoming feast.
The crispy buffalo chicken sandwich has also returned to Croads, providing a welcome treat for students returning from break.
The article was copy-edited by Lily Wasmund '28.
The featured image for this article is courtesy of College of the Holy Cross.
[1] Mack Hughes '25's Spring Break Antics: A Tale of Pranks and Consequences. (2023). The Eggplant. Retrieved from https://theeggplant.com/mack-hughes-25s-spring-break-antics-a-tale-of-pranks-and-consequences/
[2] Invasive Species Impact. (n.d.). National Wildlife Federation. Retrieved from https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Invasive-Species/Impact
[3] Wildlife Law. (n.d.). Defenders of Wildlife. Retrieved from https://defenders.org/wildlife-law
[4] Human Safety and Wildlife Conflict. (n.d.). World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved from https://www.worldwildlife.org/topics/human-wildlife-conflict
- Mack Hughes '25's antics, rooted in tradition and a sense of humor, have raised concerns about safety, damage to infrastructure, ecological impact, and legal consequences, especially following the incident with the anaconda snakes in Hogan.
- The release of snakes into air vents can have serious negative consequences, from causing panic and dangerous encounters among people to inflicting harm on the snakes themselves, as well as damaging the campus facilities and disrupting the local ecosystem.
- In a different context, the traditions of homemade eggplant goulash will continue, as Mack Hughes '25's family recipe will be featured in the upcoming feast on campus, symbolizing the role of pop-culture and social-media in student events on campus.
