Could Poltergeists be Wreaking Havoc in McGee Hall?
Many freshman girls have experienced strange events in McGee...should Rockhurst call the Ghostbusters?
E. S. Kahm
Issue date: 10/28/05 Section: Of Interest . . .
- Page 1 of 1
Most of the charming ladies of McGee are aware that the building itself is mildly haunted. Many have fallen victim to the spirits that (at least until this year) likely made their homes on the semi-deserted 5th floor-doors seem to lock themselves, the showers manage to spitefully change their temperatures from boiling hot to freezing cold, and all know the upset when, without warning, the trash chute becomes mysteriously blocked. And yet few realize that McGee has a haunted history that some upperclassmen are willing to share.
Though details are sketchy, most upperclassmen know of a female resident that reportedly committed suicide on the 2nd floor. It is said that this room was left empty after her death, and a year later, when pillows from the McGee lounge went missing and a door-to-door search was instigated, the pillows were found in the abandoned room...with the door locked from the inside. The nature of this room is now known to its inhabitants (names will be withheld to protect the innocent), and amazingly, paranormal phenomena have been rare this year. Yet the one incident that has occurred led to the current resident learning of her room's history. She says, "I left to brush my teeth and next thing I know, the door's locked. When I went down to the DA's desk to get the key, they told me the story." But perhaps this is only because the real haunting has moved elsewhere.
Practically all McGee residents have experienced the confusion and frustration of one or the other elevator seeming to take initiative, regardless of what it has been told to do. One elevator specializes in delivering bewildered girls to the basement, regardless of the fact that all of them want to go up, to their rooms. The other, until recently, always managed to miss the target floor by about 6 inches-and would proceed to correct by moving after the doors were completely open. This has changed since the incident of the 12th.
On 10/12/2005, at around 4:00 in the afternoon, the elevators of McGee took their petty annoyances to the next level. Both elevators began creating high pitched screeching noises as they moved, a racket which echoed up and down all halls of all floors, barely muffled by closed doors. That night, the elevators had to be declared "Out of Order" for the reason that people could simply not sleep with the din. The next day, the elevators were quietly fixed in the morning when most McGee residents were at class. Though staff claims that the screeching monstrosities were simply oiled, rumor has it that this WD-40 may have been infused with holy water. Though most are simply happy to be able to sleep in peace, some speculate as to the sounds created. Several students assert that their roommates actually make similar noises before heading off to 3 hour labs. Could this incident have been sparked by the tortured spirit of a freshman who attempted to take Chemistry, Biology, and Physics lab in the same semester? Some believe it not only possible, but likely. But the series of hauntings are perhaps best summed up by a freshman girl, who says she will not feel comfortable riding the elevator until they, "make a shelf inside that has a Bible, holy water, a rosary, and Fr. Kinerk's phone number with a sign on it that reads 'Just in Case."
 The ´haunted´ elevator mystifies apprehensive freshmen in McGee. (Photo courtesy of Emily Kahm) [Click to enlarge] |
Practically all McGee residents have experienced the confusion and frustration of one or the other elevator seeming to take initiative, regardless of what it has been told to do. One elevator specializes in delivering bewildered girls to the basement, regardless of the fact that all of them want to go up, to their rooms. The other, until recently, always managed to miss the target floor by about 6 inches-and would proceed to correct by moving after the doors were completely open. This has changed since the incident of the 12th.
On 10/12/2005, at around 4:00 in the afternoon, the elevators of McGee took their petty annoyances to the next level. Both elevators began creating high pitched screeching noises as they moved, a racket which echoed up and down all halls of all floors, barely muffled by closed doors. That night, the elevators had to be declared "Out of Order" for the reason that people could simply not sleep with the din. The next day, the elevators were quietly fixed in the morning when most McGee residents were at class. Though staff claims that the screeching monstrosities were simply oiled, rumor has it that this WD-40 may have been infused with holy water. Though most are simply happy to be able to sleep in peace, some speculate as to the sounds created. Several students assert that their roommates actually make similar noises before heading off to 3 hour labs. Could this incident have been sparked by the tortured spirit of a freshman who attempted to take Chemistry, Biology, and Physics lab in the same semester? Some believe it not only possible, but likely. But the series of hauntings are perhaps best summed up by a freshman girl, who says she will not feel comfortable riding the elevator until they, "make a shelf inside that has a Bible, holy water, a rosary, and Fr. Kinerk's phone number with a sign on it that reads 'Just in Case."