In 1971, a group of students from the University of Leeds orchestrated a prank that involved smuggling a live python named 'Christine' onto campus. They aimed to release the snake during a lecture, intending for it to serve as a humorous disruption. The sudden appearance of the python caused panic and led to a temporary evacuation of the lecture hall. The prank was quickly revealed and resolved without harm, resulting in a legendary tale of student humor that became part of the university's history.