Legends Of The Dark provides frights for students

Psychology was known as the "devil's work" to the religious people in the 19th century.

Therefore, when a residence hall was converted to Sloan Hall, a building dedicated to the teaching of psychology, it was a curious mishap when a construction crew decided to carve what appears to be an upside down cross into a patch of corroding bricks.

About 200 students who attended Legends of the Dark on Wednesday night identified Sloan Hall as one of the creepiest among the 13 stories told on the Legends Of The Dark tour. Tours were held between 7:30 to 10:20 p.m., as groups of students toured north campus' most haunted spots.

Tours were held last night and tonight at the same times. Tickets may be purchased for $5 at the event. Proceeds will benefit the Mobile Food Pantry. About $791 was raised Wednesday night. New this year, they are also accepting donations of toiletry items for the local community pantry. Anyone who donates a personal care item will receive $1 off admission when they purchase their tickets.

Marquette freshman Samantha Misale, who was in charge of performing the story in front of the cross, said even she was a little creeped out by the story she was telling.

"I believe it has to be one of the scariest stories. I believe in demons. I'm a huge fan of 'Ghost Hunters' and shows like that," Misale said. "I'm afraid something is just going to come out of the building and get me."

Trout Hall Director Ann Krzyzaniak said they chose north campus because it is the oldest part of Central Michigan University.

"Obviously, as the oldest part of campus, it has more ghost stories than any other part of campus," Krzyzaniak said.

Krzyzaniak said the event couldn't have been as successful as it has been without the support of volunteering students and the community.

"We have had a very good turnout tonight," Krzyzaniak said. "We just have some fantastic students volunteering tonight and that has a lot to do with it. We've also had a lot of community members show up, professors and high school students. It's good to know this program is becoming a more prominent part of the community."

The tour not only consisted of haunted spots and haunted tales, but volunteers whose sole mission was to give the participants goosebumps.

New York sophomore Wally Furrer said the most effective parts of the tour were when the those volunteers were succesful.

"Wherever you want, they were all over you," Furrer said. " There was this time when one them slammed a door in the middle of the pit (in Warriner Hall). It made all of us jump."

David Bonser, a Sparta sophomore, was one of those volunteers. He and a group of three other face-painted ghouls terrified groups as they walked into the Powers courtyard.

"They've been getting more gullible as the night has progressed," Bonser said. "But I've also been getting better at scaring them."

While perhaps the scariest tale belonged to Sloan Hall, one of the most popular destinations was the Powers courtyard. Furrer said it was because of the performance of Travis White, who performed the story in the courtyard.

"I really don't think it's something you can prepare for," the Farwell freshman said, who adorned a cane and a top-hat throughout the night. "Yeah, you can read the script, but in the end, you just have to feel it out."

White told the story of a young music student who died during the period where Powers Hall was a music building. White said some claim that the student was buried underneath the courtyard. At night, you can sometimes hear the student still playing.

And sure enough, a piano was heard faintly throughout the entire tale.