40 years ago: Mysterious purple wildcat makes overnight visit to KU campus

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 13, 1972:

A Wildcat apparently had visited the Kansas University campus overnight. Giant purple paw prints were discovered this morning in front of Strong Hall and Hoch Auditorium, and large purple painted signs spelled “K-State” and “KSU” were found on the sidewalks near Strong. Although the mythical Cat had escaped unseen, several paint-wielding Kansas State students had been apprehended by a KU patrolman at about 3:15 this morning. They had been released after a lecture from the patrolman, and KU workers this morning were busy washing the purple and gold off Mount Oread.