This article initially appeared in a print issue of the Monitor published 31 Oct. 2025.

Every October, campus gets a little weirder. Someone swears their dorm is haunted. Someone else hears footsteps when they’re studying alone. A friend tells you about a “cold spot” in the hallway. It’s fun, honestly. But if we take a step back (and maybe turn the flashlight on for a second) it’s pretty clear: Ghosts aren’t real.

And that’s okay.

The Science (or Lack Thereof)

Despite hundreds of years of stories, no one has ever produced real, consistent evidence that ghosts exist. There are no verified photographs, no measurable energy readings, no scientific studies that stand up to scrutiny. Paranormal shows like to toss around fancy gadgets and blurry “orbs,” but what you’re really seeing are dust particles, light reflections or camera malfunctions.

So, if the science isn’t there, why do so many of us feel like ghosts are real?

The Psychology of Being Spooked

Humans are wired to find patterns. When you hear a strange noise in the dark, your brain instantly goes into alert mode, searching for meaning. That rustle might be wind, or the building settling, or a ghost, but your instincts don’t care. Your mind fills in the blanks, because it’s safer to assume “something’s there” than to risk ignoring a threat.

There’s even a term for it: pareidolia—our tendency to see familiar shapes, especially faces, in random objects or patterns. That shadow that looks like a person? That reflection in your window that moves when you do? It’s your brain connecting dots that don’t actually form a picture.

And, of course, our surroundings don’t help. Dim lighting, old pipes, uneven floors and weird acoustics are all the classic ingredients for a haunting.

Why We Keep Believing Anyway

Even if the evidence doesn’t exist, the stories persist, and maybe that’s the real point. Ghost stories have always been a way to explore what we don’t fully understand: death, grief, guilt, memory. They give shape to emotions we can’t easily talk about.

When someone says, “I think my grandmother’s ghost visits me,” what they might really be saying is, “I miss her, and I wish I still felt connected to her.” Believing in ghosts can be comforting.

And for those of us who don’t believe, there’s still something undeniably fun about pretending we do. Ghost stories are social. They bring people together. They let us feel a little rush of fear in a completely safe way. A creaky dorm becomes a shared adventure instead of just a maintenance issue.

The Comfort of the Rational

If anything, knowing ghosts aren’t real makes the world a little easier to live in. You don’t have to worry about angry spirits rearranging your furniture or following you down hallways. There’s comfort in understanding how things work. Science doesn’t take the magic out of life; it replaces superstition with something even more fascinating: reality. The fact that our brains can create entire ghost stories out of shadows and sound is its own kind of mystery.

This article initially appeared in a print issue of the Monitor published 31 Oct. 2025.

It’s officially the end of October which means the spooky season is upon us. Street decor is littered with witches, ghouls and, of course, ghosts, but this is all just decoration… right? There has been a prolonged debate throughout history about whether ghosts exist or are simply figments of people’s imagination. Ancient texts suggest that ghost stories have been told since the time of Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt, where there was a belief that spirits lived after death and moved on to the afterlife. In Greece and Rome there are letters that suggest some people believed in ghosts as spirits that stayed in their resting place after death. 

Moving to the present day, society typically understands ghosts through pop culture references. Movies, such as “The Conjuring” and “Beetlejuice”, depict ghosts as spirits that either have unfinished business or are seeking revenge. The plots of these stories follow the same general message, where ghosts are something that should be continuously feared. However, I believe the historical examples of ghosts are more accurate to what these spirits, if they do indeed surround us, are like.

I have mixed feelings about ghosts. If ghosts do indeed exist, my idea of them doesn’t necessarily align with the pop-culture ghost. I would hope that they more resemble spirits of past loved ones looking over their living relatives. A few religions, such as Christianity, see ghosts as almost a guide throughout everyday life. In Christianity the Holy Ghost is meant to steer people down the path of righteousness and lead them out of the dark. I think this image of spirits and ghosts is beautiful because it depicts them as guides and caregivers. There are passed members of my family that I miss, and there is something comforting about the idea of them looking over me in spirit. This, to me, paints a more realistic picture of what ghosts are meant to be: spirits who protect and guide the living. 

Now, this description of ghosts probably isn’t what you were thinking when you decided to break out your jack-o-lanterns and costumes, but I feel it gives meaning behind the symbol we see so often around Halloween. The idea of a ghost doesn’t have to be an image that strikes fear into kids and horror movie fans alike; instead it can be a reminder of loved ones lost. The Day of the Dead, or Dia De Los Muertos, is a holiday celebrated across Latin America where the living reunite with the dead. Through offerings and decorated altars, family members can encourage those who have passed to come visit them in the land of the living. This belief that spirits come back and can see their loved ones, even for just a night, is a twist on how modern horror culture views spirits. 

At the end of the day, I don’t know if ghosts are real and I don’t think I’ll ever truly find out. However, what I do know is that if ghosts are more like our loved ones and less likeThe Conjuring’s Bathsheba, it makes my Halloween a little less terrifying.

The problem has finally been resolved as work orders to fix the problematic toilet were inundating the maintenance crew. Many of the residents on the second floor have befriended Myrtle. When asked about Myrtle many of them responded that she’s a quite friendly ghost that enjoys the company of the residents on the second floor. Myrtle has even helped to create many fun floor activities that build a community atmosphere like knitting, spa days and shopping spree outings.

I decided to interview several of the residents to ask their favorite thing about Myrtle living on the second floor.

“I really like Myrtle because she helps me style my hair,” said Dalton Dye.

“She likes to play nerf guns wars with us. It’s dope,” said Anthony Howard.

“She understands Southern hospitality,” said Nick Besson.

With the overwhelming amount of admiration for Myrtle, Residence Life directors have concluded that they will let Myrtle continue to live in the toilet. She has even become the newest individual to be interviewed for the Stall Street Journal. You can check out her interview as you fulfill your daily duty this coming week. Until then Myrtle always enjoys visitors.

Feature photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

A recent decision by the College’s administration has resulted in all four of Jewell’s resident specters being charged room and baord. Charges include every year that each ghost has remained on campus. I asked the ghosts what they thought of the recent changes in their campus status.

After meandering through stacks of admission pamphlets and Jewell coffee mugs, I was able to reach Mona, the girl who lives in what is now called “pool storage.” Mona did not appear to me in physical form, but she did communicate through drops of water falling from the ceiling.

“I’m worried that I won’t be able to pay off this much money,” Mona said, “I haven’t ever had a job, since I died when I was eight. It doesn’t help that I can’t even count to 100 yet.”

Only a small distance away resides the ghost of Peter’s Theatre. According to him, he had not filled out his FAFSA for the past 50 years. This would determine whether or not he would be able to officially apply for work-study, even though he had been helping backstage with theatre productions since his unfortunate death.

The laborious climb to the top of Jewell Hall allowed me to interview a particular Civil War soldier. When asked about the change in his financial status, he said that tuition already costs and arm and a leg, and since he’s lost both, he doesn’t have any way to pay for the new charges.

“Also, the business office is really taking their time responding to my emails. I emailed them 32 years ago about being paid for my historical contributions to the campus, and I never heard back. I’ve just decided to unleash a swarm of wasps and lady bugs upon Jewell Hall until they decide to respond to me,” the soldier said.

The ghost of the horse in White Science offered a singular “neigh” in response to questions regarding being charged admission.

Photos by Elizabeth Messina.