The infamous Adams House gong—which went missing the week before Housing Day—has yet to be returned, and Adams House authorities are getting serious about recovering it.

Thieves have until 10 a.m. Thursday morning to return the gong before a police report is filed and what is likely an interhouse prank turns into a criminal offense, according to an e-mail sent by an Adams House HoCo co-chair.

A group calling itself Friends United for Chinese Knicknacks and Against Detention of Ancient Manchurian Stuff took credit for stealing the gong—which, in the past, had been sounded when non-Adams House residents attempted to eat in the conveniently located dining hall.

The gong, a symbol of controversial interhouse dining restrictions, was also stolen in 1999 and 2004, but each time surfaced shortly after its disappearance.

As Adams HoCo Co-Chair Samantha L. Houston '11 explained in an e-mailed statement, "Adams House likes a prank as much as anyone. However, given the duration of the gong's absence without a clue regarding its location, this prank has became theft. We will file a police report if the gong is not returned to our House Administrator's office by Thursday morning at 10 a.m."

Photo by Danielle F. Dejoy/The Harvard Crimson