Dr. Seuss was a fake name that the author started using after he was busted for drinking in college.

Dr. Seuss was a fake name that the author started using after he was busted for drinking in college.

Ted Geisel was the editor in chief of Dartmouth's humor magazine Jack-o-Lantern until he was busted throwing a party that was against the school rules. Barred from writing anymore, Geisel started using his middle name "Seuss" as his pen name so that he could continue writing. The name worked: he was able to get around Dartmouth's rules, and developed a pen name that lasted decades later.

A quote from personal friends about Dr. Seuss' mischievous college years: "Ted grew to respect the academic discipline he discovered at Dartmouth-not enough to pursue it, but to appreciate those who did." I guess there's still hope for the rest of us.