F EATU RE S
NOVEMBERS, 2013
Ghosts could be cause of mysterious bruises
BY TY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Two weeks ago, a first-year in Founders
Hall lifted his leg into the air and pulled
down his pants in front of me.
No, he was not exposing himself.
"I keep waking up with these strange
bruises," said first-year Darion Bayles as he
pointed to dark purple markings on his leg.
He lowered his leg and set his Ouija
board-encased phone aside.
"Dude, it's like the possessed lady from
'The Conjuring,"' I said to him. "She kept
waking up with strange bruises just like
you."
"I think a ghost is messing with me,"
said Bayles.
Sure, it might sound crazy at first, but
before dismissing Bayles as a paranoid
lunatic, take into consideration the fact that
many claim to have encountered ghosts on
Guilford College's campus.
According to Initiative on Faith and
Practice Gifts Discernment Coordinator
Frank Massey, Guilford is home to many
ghosts, or "spirits" as he calls them.
"I know of three spirits in Dana
(Auditorium)," said Massey. "There are
also two in Mary Hobbs Hall and many in
the woods."
Just like Guilford's students, these
rumored spirits come from many different
backgrounds.
"Here in Dana, there is a civil war soldier
that guards the second floor and a little girl
that stays on the stage," said Massey. "I
even know of a family of Native Americans
who live outside Hege-Cox (Hall)."
After hearing this, I met with Bayles and
we snuck into Dana together at midnight
in pursuit of Lucas, the Civil War soldier.
After 30 minutes of waiting, we saw''
nothing, although Bayles claims to have felt
a presence.
But what about Bayles' bruises? Are
there reports of spirits in Milner Hall that
haunt residents?
"While I don't know of ^ny spirits in
Milner, I am sure that there are some,"
said Massey. "I don't know of any instance
when a student has been hurt, but I believe
a spirit could cause a person harm if they
wanted to."
Not everyone is convinced, however,
and some students renounce the idea of
spirits residing on campus.
When I sat down and mentioned the
spirits to two of my friends, I saw this
renouncement firsthand.
"Ghosts aren't real and they don't exist at
Guilford," said Early College senior Parth
Vaidya. "Even if they did exist, they're
not going to team up and haunt Guilford,
because they'd spend too much time
arguing over their supposed differences."
Vaidya's friend, however, did not
appreciate his stance.
"In 50 years. I'm going to see you dead
and know it's because of a ghost," said
Early College senior Sydney Lockhart to
Vaidya.
Like Lockhart, senior Ivy Baharain also
believes in ghosts.
"I have experienced ghosts in Mary
Hobbs," said Baharain. "There were ghosts
in my room, and my roommate and I had to
flee to The Hut for the night."
Perhaps Bayles, like Baharain, has a
ghost in his room. Or maybe he does not.
All I can say is that Bayles' bruises have
convinced me to stay away from Milner.
Ghosts and I do not mix well. Especially
ghosts that like to bruise their victims.
Earn credits, take J-Term classes
Calendar of January Term deadlines
BY LEK SlU
Staff Writer
It is almost the end of the Fall semester
and you might be wondering if you want
to take a class during J-Term. You start
asking yourself: Can it help me graduate
on time and have a smaller course load
at the end of senior year? Should I take
this opportunity?
First, you ask yourself: What is
J-Term?
"It's a period of intensive study on a
single subject that engages students in
ways that are often not possible during
semesters," said Director of Study
Abroad Jack Zerbe.
As time goes by, you are still unsure.
You pause and thini^ "I should find out
the cost."
'The most obvious change is a
dramatic price reduction for on-campus
experiences," said Zerbe. "While last
year a 4-credit experience cost $1,384,
now it costs a flat fee of $500 without a
grant."
"That sounds like a great deal," you
think. Before you make your decision, it
is important to check out all the options.
One course is "100 Ways to Change
the World," taught by Project and
Communication Manager Kim Yarbray.
"This class will give students the
opportunity to engage with the issue
areas of sustainability, incarceration and
education through action, visits with
people working in those areas and the
related literature," said Yarbray.
"My class is about the Art of
Bookbinding," said part-time lecturer in
English Andrew Saulters. "We will have
an exciting and engaging series of weeks
making books by hand."
It is time to make your decision. You
have figured out the cost and courses,
and you are almost ready to go.
Registration takes place the week of
Nov. 11 to Nov. 18.
If you prefer to take things slowly, do
not want to get in a panic at the end of
your senior year and want to be sure to
graduate on-time or early, then J-Term
may be the right choice for you. Open
your eyes more widely, because it is time
for you to explore, gain new skills and
experience new things this January.
Want to see a
complete list of
on-campus
J-Term
opportunities?
Simply scan the QR
code below!
ionday, Oct. 28
Nov. 11-18
Friday, Jan. 3
Grant application dead
line for J-Term,
Registration for J-Term
at Guilford and for
Spring semester 2014.
J-Term begins at
Guilford, unless your
experience begins on
another date.