An example of the freshmen's pre-Scrap activities are described in a 1910 Purdue Exponent article. The two victims were sophomore reporters for the paper. "Two reporters on a peaceable mission were summarily "jerked" from the west bound car at the foot of the hill and in the face of vane protests, threats and assumption of official dignity on their part, were divested of their wearing apparel and clothed in a coat of paint of indescribable colors. Joseph in his many colored coat certainly had nothing on the two wayfarers who emerged from the ordeal only to face one still more interesting from the spectator's standpoint. One of the unfortunates by the name of (Elmer Roy) Laird was called upon to engineer the business end of a pump handle until the trough in the West Side livery barn was full to overflowing. Then young Laird, a bonny haired giant, gave exhibitions in aquatics and won a round of well deserved applause by his fancy swimming and high diving. Laird emerged from his exhibition breathless and shivering and was allowed to escape clad in his scanty garb."
A street car moves along State Street. University Hall and Purdue Hall are seen in the background.
Source: "Painted and Ducked," The Purdue Exponent 22 (September 20, 1910): 1.
