Haunted Colleges Series: Penn State University

The Penn State Paranormal Research Society doesn't need to look far for hauntings. Several building on the campus are rumored to have a ghost or two.

The Pattee Library haunting is based on a real life, documented occurrence. In November 1969, Betsy Aardsma, a graduate student doing research for her English class when she was murdered. The case was never solved.

Students report the feeling of being watched, several have felt unseen hands touch or grab them. In one frightening incident a young woman reported the feeling that she wasn't alone or safe. She had been reading a copy of a satanic bible. The feeling of being watched followed her home. She woke up that night; it felt like someone was trying to strangle her. She couldn't call out for her roommate. The girl was fine but vowed never to go in the library again.

The legend of Schwab Auditorium includes up to 3 ghosts. One of the ghosts a former president of the college is reported to be a very friendly spirit. Another ghost dwells in the attic, moving chairs and creating noise, especially during exams. A professor, who insisted on absolute quiet during his lectures given in Schwab Auditorium is said to have been so bothered by the constant sound of moving chairs and heavy furniture in the attic, stopped a test. Accompanied by 3 bulky football players they made their way to the attic, expecting to find pranksters, instead found fresh scrape marks on the floor but nothing else.

Built in 1909 the old Botany building is one of the oldest structures still standing at Penn State. It sits right across the street from Schwab Auditorium. The resident ghost is said to be the former president's (who haunts Schwab) wife. In life she loved and cherished the plants. She seems to be carrying on the tradition in the afterlife also. A rather mischievous spirit she has been known to move furniture and garbage from beside the trash barrels to the middle of the floor. Her actions usually not malicious are somewhat demanding. If she feels you are not taking proper care of her plants and flowers she will unplug the computer printers and turn the lights off and on.

The unique thing about the ghosts that reportedly haunt Penn State is their ability to move from building to building, even going so far as student dorms and housing. Maybe the presence of psychics doing research with the Paranormal Society gives the ghosts' greater freedom and more energy.