Western Michigan University Students Say They Have Outgrown April Fools’ Day. Really.

Editor’s Note: Students in Professor Sue Ellen Christian’s multimedia journalism course at Western Michigan University explore what April Fool’s Day means to their peers. No joke. Written in collaboration by Austtyn Keh, Cadence Laura, and Justin Thomas.

For many Western Michigan University students, April Fools’ Day doesn’t carry the same excitement it once did in childhood. While some still enjoy the humor behind harmless pranks, others feel the tradition has lost its relevance over time.

“I think April Fools’ was more for when we were younger,” says WMU sophomore Michielle Gonzalez, who now views the day as mostly ordinary. Still, she remembers a favorite prank, telling friends they had posted something embarrassing online, only to watch them “freak out” when nothing was actually there.

Nostalgia about the day is typical of many college students, who associate the holiday with childhood memories rather than present-day celebrations. 

Emma Pop, a WMU senior, says she and her friends rarely think about the holiday. “I think now I just see it more on social media or see celebrities doing something, but I never personally celebrate it,” says Pop.

WMU sophomore Arabel Perez’s perspective highlights how many students see the holiday as immature in a college environment. Perez says that she finds April Fools’ Day “not cool” and even “overrated.” 

Jack Spiess, a sophomore at WMU, said that growing older means growing out of the day’s hijinks. “The more and more April Fool’s days you have, the less value they have,” says Spiess. 

Still, the playful jokes can create connections and memorable moments between friends, admits Spiess, who says he is advocating for an increase in celebrations. 

“It’s fun to mess with people, and in 2026, we need to bring it back,” Spiess says.