In an attempt to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, students, faculty and staff gathered, armed with pillows, for The Largest Pillow Fight in the History of Humankind.

What was intended to be merely a pillow fight turned into mud-soaked pandemonium, yesterday’s rain turned the south oval into a giant mud pit.

Hosted by the Mortar Board Senior Class Honor Society and the Beat Michigan Week committee, the event aimed at defeating Duke University’s record of 1,074 people participating in a pillow fight for one minute.

“Duke only did it for one (minute),” Kyle Blizzard, a sophomore in communication and member of the Beat Michigan Week committee shouted as he addressed the crowd. “We’re better than they are, so we’re gonna go for two minutes of pillow bashing craziness.”

Leah Michalos, a senior in english and criminology and co-chair of the event said the idea came from an article in The Lantern and a message in Buckeye Net News written by Bill Hall, vice president for student affairs.

“The OSU community is already pumped and excited for the game against that team up north this week, so what better time to try and win at something else?” Michalos said.

As the event kicked off, Hall showed the crowd his support.

“I’ve always wanted to take my aggression out on students legally,” Hall said.

The rain deterred some people from coming. However, it added to the appeal for others.

Ben Hendrickson, a freshman in psychology, said the rain and mud provided a good atmosphere for the event. Hendrickson came to the event with one goal in mind.

“Just swing,” he said.

Attendees pummeled each other with mud-caked pillows for two minutes as rain continued to fall. After the time was through, students slowly dispersed, but not until a few more mud angels, mud slides and mud-wrestling matches took place.

“It was a great time,” Michalos said. “It was one heck of a mud party.”

As the event concluded, official numbers had not yet been counted. However, Scott Wendell, a senior in chemical engineering and co-chair of the event, said he did not think the goal was met. Plans are being made for another attempt at the record next year.

“We certainly have enough people here to be a dominant force in the race to the pillow fighting record books,” Michalos said.

For more information about Mortar Board, visit www.mortarboardosu.org/.