"I am Giantman. I am huge. And I have brought you...BUTTERSCOTCH!"

Such was the siren call of campus legend Giantman, a mysterious nine-foot-tall behemoth that would make appearances on the Res Quad in the fall of 1994. One day, two students, one sitting on the other's shoulders, covered in blankets, wielding a wooden staff, and wearing a wig combined forces to become Giantman. He appeared to a crowd of ten to fifteen people and spoke for a few scant minutes and then fled into the evening. This was the beginning of a cult phenomenon.

At the peak of his popularity, Giantman drew crowds of over three hundred people who came to hear the strange figure speak of his "immense girth" and "unequaled height" before being showered with the trademark cellophane-wrapped butterscotch candies as the colossus retreated into the night. Many people believed that Giantman was real. People carried signs declaring their love for Giantman. They wore t-shirts emblazoned with his silhouette. There were pro- and anti-Giantman articles in The Daily. A teacher in an ethics even debated with students whether or not they were exploiting a freak of nature. After appearing on-stage with campus band The Electric Fun Machine, Giantman disappeared as swiftly and suddenly as he came.

After seeing this graffiti around campus this past spring, I hope that it's not a hoax. Tufts needs you, Giantman. We need your staggering height, your message of love, and your never-ending stores of butterscotch.

Listen to the full story here. [via Public Radio Exchange]