MIT students turn famed Harvard statue into 'Halo' chief

[www.news.com]

September 26, 2007 8:00 AM PDT
MIT students turn famed Harvard statue into 'Halo' chief

It goes without saying that in addition to a stellar reputation for academic innovation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology is renowned for its geeky pranks. The best-known of these was perhaps the time when students decorated the campus' Great Dome to look like Star Wars robot R2D2 in celebration of the legendary film series' first prequel in 1999.

But Star Wars prequels are so last decade. These days, it's all about the much-hyped Xbox 360 title Halo 3. And why prank your own campus when you can pull a fast one on those snotty Crimsons next door?

Consequently, MIT pranksters headed over to the neighboring campus of Harvard University and decorated Harvard Yard's legendary statue of founder John Harvard to look like a Spartan warrior. Enough said.

A caption in the MIT student newspaper, The Tech, explained the full prank: "The back of the helmet, which is worn by the protagonist of the game, Master Chief, was labeled with 'Master Chief in Training.' The statue was decorated with an assault rifle (bullet count of 2E), as well as a Beaver emblem on the right shoulder." (In case you didn't know, MIT's mascot is the beaver.)