Thanks to Mary B for the heads up.
Madison.com reports:
One of the greatest college pranks ever has inspired Madison leaders to name the plastic pink flamingo the city’s official bird.
The Madison City Council voted 15-4 on Tuesday to give the plastic bird the distinction.
The reason dates to the classic 1979 prank orchestrated by leaders of the Pail and Shovel Party, which were in charge of student government at the University of Wisconsin at the time. They organized the surprise placement of more than 1,000 pink plastic flamingos on Bascom Hill, the steep incline that leads to the dean’s office.
Resolution sponsor Alderwoman Marsha Rummel says that event “signifies something that makes us a very special place” is “captured in our imaginations forever.”
For those who are not aware, Jim Mallon was the student body president and one of the main perpetrators of the stunt.
Thanks to Kathy for the heads up.
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That’s kinda neat!
You can’t name an inanimate object an official bird! It’s not a real bird!!! Great prank, granted, still goes to show how dumb our politcians are. And I say “our” because I’m Milwaukee, WI born and bred.
To quote ” The Giant Spider Invasion”, ” Packers Woooooo!,Go Packers!,Wooooo Packers Woooo! , Packers?
Just imagine the fascinating Biography he could have written and produced if instead of Wisconsin he had attended the University of Minnesota.
Does that mean the Statue of Liberty will be the city’s official monument?
My dad went to school there and actually remembers the pranks Jim pulled off. Cue my “woah”ness.
That’s just hilarious. Way ta go, Jim!
I’ll yay this as well. Best Jim-related news in a long time.
um, not to nitpick, but its “City Council”, not “City Counsel”, unless you’re talking about the City attorney…
I KNEW that sounded familiar when I read the story…
You can see a picture on the cover (and read about Jim’s other pranks) here: If at all possible, involve a cow! A great book no MSTie should be without!
I heard something about a city naming the pink flamingo their official bird, probably on NPR.
My mind immediately went to the “prank”, but I didn’t realize it was the Prank’s hometown!
Yay! I’m from Leominster, Massachusetts, which invented this bird. I’m glad to see it given its due. :grin: