Christmas time was magical on campus. Every year they would set up a life size nativity scene with baby Jesus, real hay in the mangier, no expense too great to make the campus look beautiful.
Christmas time was also when the Friday night frat parties got a little out of control. Well…. A lot out of control.
This one Friday night about 2 weeks before Christmas break some of my frat brothers and I got extremely drunk. I just happened to have a key to some of the buildings because I just happened to be the photo editor of the yearbook.
In our drunken state we decided to have a little fun. There was only one security guard on duty in the main building where the nativity scene was. We brought Tony the security guard a bottle of cheap wine and after he fell asleep we put him in a broom closet.
Monday morning Security reported baby Jesus was missing and in His place was a ransom note. The dean got on the public address system and said that whoever kidnapped baby Jesus was to return baby Jesus immediately to his office whereupon whoever was responsible for kidnapping baby Jesus would be expelled from the university. Yeah, like that’s incentive to return baby Jesus!
Wednesday morning the dean got on the PA system and said that whoever kidnapped baby Jesus should return baby Jesus to his office whereupon that person or persons would be suspended for one semester. Private schools cost lots of bucks even if you are living at home. So once again there is no incentive to return baby Jesus.
Friday morning the dean spoke on the PA system telling everyone that security is being removed from the nativity scene and just please return baby Jesus and all will be forgiven in the spirit of the season.
The bell rang to change classes and baby Jesus magically appeared on His bed of hay. The university newspaper refused to print a picture of the returned baby Jesus as he was blindfolded with a piece of duct tape over his mouth and rope handcuffs.
I did feel that I had crossed the line and gone too far and was disrespectful. In January at the start of the semester I went to the Dean and told him I had a confession to make. He laughed and said something to the effect of that’s Father Enis’s department. I told the dean that I was serious and worried that I could be suspended or expelled but that my conscience was bothering me and I had to confess. The dean said OK, Levy, what did you do. I looked the Dean in the eye and said, “I kidnapped baby Jesus.” The Dean burst out in hysterics laughing. I said, “You’re not taking me seriously.” To which the Dean replied, “Good one Levy.” I said, “You don’t believe me do you?” And the Dean laughed and said, “No Jewish kid going to a Catholic University would be that stupid as to kidnap baby Jesus!”