*James Franco ready to get high on Penn

*This story appeared in the 2011 Joke Issue.

Step aside, Amy Gutmann. Penn’s about to have a new superstar on campus.

In a series of tweets late Monday night, Ivy League heartthrob James Franco announced he will transfer to Penn in the fall.

Over the past few months, Franco said he has grown increasingly unhappy as a doctoral student studying English at Yale University.

“I just wasn’t that high on Yale anymore, to tell you the truth,” Franco said. “Penn’s the place for me.”

After The Yale Daily News — whose content has been ranked consistently behind that of The Daily Pennsylvanian by the Associated Collegiate Press — mocked Franco’s performance as an Oscar host in February, the Hollywood actor posted a picture on Twitter which read “FUCK THE YALE DAILY NEWS.”

Franco, who has also studied at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and Columbia University, said he was “not at all” surprised to learn of his acceptance to Penn.

Dean of Admissions Eric Furda said Franco’s application “was among the best we’ve seen in years.”

“The selection committee was intoxicated by Mr. Franco’s accomplishments,” Furda said. “He’s going to make for an excellent Quaker.”

Because of some issues with Franco’s application that Furda called a “horrible admissions snafu,” Franco will begin his studies at Penn as a member of the Class of 2015.

Franco, though, said he is still “pumped and lit-up” about joining the incoming freshman class.

“I love the thought of being part of the Penn15 community,” he said. “I’ve had Penn15 on my mind for years, and I couldn’t be happier with Penn15 in my future.”

Wharton freshman Hillary Pittard said she is looking forward to seeing Franco in her classes next semester.

“When I’m thinking, ‘which seat can I take?’ I’m going to look for him,” Pittard said.

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