At last, some information from Google that students can really use!
Just A+ on accuracy there my searchy friend

@ricci I regret to inform you I also did a search and found more and different fake snake fighting information!

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-the-snake-fight-portion-of-your-thesis-defense

FAQ: The “Snake Fight” Portion of Your Thesis Defense

Q: Do I have to kill the snake? A: University guidelines state that you have to “defeat” the snake. There are many ways to accomplish this. Lots o...

McSweeney's Internet Tendency
RE: Thesis defense issue - kalirush - FAQ: The "Snake Fight" Portion Of Your Thesis Defense (McSweeney's Post) - Luke Burns [Archive of Our Own]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

@bstacey @amytabb The fact that AO3 has a 'fandom' for this article is one of the things that gives me hope for humanity
@ricci It specifically was a request for Yuletide (which is a fanfiction exchange that happens at Christmas every year) last year and seeing every single one if these fanfics made me very happy on Christmas day.