Students offer experiences, opinions on April Fools' Day traditions

Ashley Carlton, an IU graduate, received a phone call from her boyfriend saying that he had an STD. While she panicked, screaming at her boyfriend, he laughed and yelled “April Fools’.”\nApril Fools’ Day has been around since 1582 during the change of calendars, according to infoplease.com. But some students have found that April Fools’ Day has lost its significance.\nFor junior Monica Wineinger, she hasn’t done or heard of anything in a long time regarding April Fools’. \n“I remember in junior high it used to be really big,” Wineinger said. “My teacher even got blood capsules, pretended like he tripped and fell, and the blood squirted everywhere.”\nMany April Fools’ Day pranks provide people a chance to joke with family members without them getting upset, said sophomore Ashley Miller.\n“My freshman year in high school, I emptied my stepdad’s shampoo with a paste made with flour, water and coloring dye,” Miller said. “It was hilarious; his hair was still messed up for days.”\nMiller is not the only person who pranks family members. Bloomington resident Nicole Scott pranked her grandmother and almost gave her a heart attack. \n“My grandmother was obsessed with this store, so we told her they were having a 70 percent off sale with additional coupons,” Scott said. “She thought she could get everything for free and she began getting overly excited. When we told her April Fools’ I thought she was going to collapse.”\nNot all students think the day is lighthearted. \n“It’s a foolish day, the name matches it perfectly,” said graduate student Naomi Spector.\nSome students don’t even remember or realize it’s April Fools’. \n“I don’t really pay attention to it,” sophomore Trent Senne said. “I forget, and halfway through the day, I realize its April Fools’ Day. Even if I realized it was April Fools’ before, I wouldn’t do anything for it, and it’s a waste.”\nSpector said that because people are now more skeptical, April Fools’ is difficult.\n“Many people don’t believe anyone on any day, especially not on April Fools’ Day,” she said.