April Fools: “Here Comes Peter Cottontail”: The Easter Bunny at Pitt-Greensburg

With Easter Sunday approaching in just a few weeks, there are many things to look forward to. People often take advantage of the chance to indulge in holiday food and chocolate rabbits. The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will commemorate the festive occasion by inviting the Easter Bunny to campus on Friday, April 18.

The bunny will arrive in his famous egg-shaped, horse-drawn carriage at 3 p.m. at the Mary Campana Chapel. He will give a brief speech about the holiday to attendees, pose for photos, and host an hour-long egg hunt.

University President Dr. Bobberson is thrilled to welcome such a legendary figure to campus. Since former President Bill Clinton visited last fall, Dr. Bobberson has been looking for another popular guest to invite.

“Bill Clinton’s appearance went extremely well last semester, and I’m really excited about the Easter Bunny coming since it will be a very different experience. In a good way, though, since he is a very elusive presence, and so I’m sure he’ll be very enchanting to see,” he said.

Dr. Bobberson’s thoughts are correct, as the Easter Bunny’s last public appearance was more than 60 years ago at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California.

Many believe the reason the bunny chose Pitt-Greensburg for his latest visit is because of the campus’s natural setting. 

“I’m sure it’s because Pitt is one of the biggest and most successful universities in the country, with UPMC and all that. But I also think he chose Pitt-Greensburg because it’s in the middle of the woods, basically, and he’d probably feel more comfortable out here than at Pitt’s main campus,”  student Tiffany Haddish said (not to be confused with the famous actress of the same name). 

Dr. Bobberson agrees that a visit from an iconic figure of many people’s childhoods is timely. He connects it to both the state of the world and the challenges students face at the university.

“I understand that it’s a scary time right now. Not just with what’s been happening in this country but with the entire world. It also doesn’t help that we’re nearing the end of the semester, so students’ stress is at an all-time high with finals and projects and papers and such. I think seeing the Easter Bunny will help bring about a certain joy that our students forgot they had, ” he said.