No. 1 Problem at Mirror Lake

In a longstanding tradition that celebrates Ohio State University’s annual football game against rival Michigan, scores of students will plunge into the frigid waters of Mirror Lake tonight.

Many of them will also urinate in the water, a researcher tells The Columbus Dispatch.

Steve Goldsmith, a postdoctoral research associate, says that tests before, during, and after last year’s jump revealed not only a 3-degree rise in the temperature of the lake water, but a spike in ammonia as well.

“It went from a background of 5.2 parts per million to a peak of about 42 parts per million,” he says. “So it was an eightfold increase.”

Biology students will take water samples every half hour this year, says Mr. Goldsmith, who says people should shower afterward. 

“Have fun,” he says, “but don’t open your mouth.” –Don Troop