Campus Legends

Since the earliest days of universities students have told stories about their daily lives often emphasizing extraordinary surprising and baffling events. This book examines the fascinating world of college and university legends. While it primarily looks at legends it also gives some attention to rumors pranks rituals and other forms of folklore. Included are introductory chapters on types of campus folklore a collection of some 50 legends from a broad range of colleges and universities an overview of scholarship and a discussion of campus legends in movies television and popular culture.Since the earliest days of universities students have told stories about their daily lives often emphasizing extraordinary surprising and baffling events. Legends often dramatize certain hopes and fears showing how stressful and exciting the college experience can be. From the stereotype of the absent minded professor to the adventures of spring break to the mysterious world of fraternities and sororities campus legends have also become an important part of popular culture. This book provides a convenient readable introduction to campus legends.While the volume focuses primarily on legends it also explores rumors pranks rituals and other related folklore types. The book begins with an overview of college and university folklore. This is followed by a discussion of particular types of legends and other folklore genres. The handbook then presents some 50 examples of college and university legends including ghost stories urban legends food lore drinking tales murders and suicides and many others. These examples are accompanied by brief comments. The book next surveys scholarship on campus folklore and discusses the place of college and university legends in films television literature and popular culture. The volume cites numerous print and electronic resources.