Inuvik (Feb 18/05) - There was plenty of horsing around at Aurora College Tuesday as staff and students wore their craziest hats and ties as part of Aurora College Week festivities.

The brainchild of campus life co-ordinator Keri Svedson, crazy hat and tie day is about as wacky as it gets during these celebrations.

"I had planned a pyjama day Thursday, but there were actually a lot of people concerned," she said, noting that she changed it to Canada Day theme. "I'm not wearing my pyjamas was something I heard quite a bit. There was one class that was disappointed ,but you can't make everyone happy."

Campus director Miki O'Kane, sporting a court jester's hat, seemed pleased about the one day she could be a joker and get away with it.

"I can't take credit for the hat day, even though I'd like to," she said with a big grin, giving the impression that she wished every day could be wacky hat day.

Perhaps by coincidence, or maybe ripping off O'Kane's hat choice, recreation leadership program student Mike Orbell appeared in court jester headgear.

"With this hat on, I don't have to think," he said.

"It sets me aside from everyone else and puts me in a different world."

Even natural resources and technology instructor Joel McAllister softened up his rough outdoorsy exterior with a hat bearing several types of fruit.

"I got this thrown on my head," was his excuse.

"It's an 11th hour hat that's very becoming, actually."

Word from college officials is that everything will return to normal next week when wacky hats will be shelved in place of the more-traditional thinking cap.