Baltimore Paranormal Investigators

 From October 30^th-the 31^st, the college had Halloween specials for almost the entire weekend. On the 30^th, the “Monster Mash” was held in the Feely International Center’s Multi-Purpose room. Presented by the Hall Council, the party had several games, music and a Halloween costume contest. They had various categories, including best couple costume, most original costume and best costume overall. The council spent a lot of time decorating the center, as well as a portion of the hallway. Outlines of bodies were drawn in tape, tinsel, paper streamers were strung along the ceiling, garlands were hung in the doorway, decorations placed on the wall, and spider webs decorated the columns and various colored tablecloths. They had games, including a “Mummy” game where people were in teams and covered a person in toilet paper and a blind table where you felt various “organs” and “parts” of a body with your eyes closed. The winners for best couple were Megan Manusco and Jon Silva as Mr. And Ms. Pac Man. For best costume, the winner was Kristin Ford, who went as a zombie nurse.

 The second Halloween event occurred on the 31^st. The Baltimore Paranormal Investigators came to take the students on a haunted tour of the campus. They began with a presentation on their organization, the field of ghost hunting, as well as the various types of equipment they use, types of hauntings they encounter, etc… After this, they split into a few small groups and went to Noyes House, the swimming pool and the Bell Tower. During the tour, students were offered camcorders, as well as the chance to participate in an EVP. An EVP, also known as “Electronic Voice Phenomena” is when they attempt to communicate with the ghosts through the use of an audio recording device. Usually the ghost hunter will turn on the device and ask any spirits that may be present some questions, then lay down the device and walk away for a while. I had a chance to ask questions in the basement of Noyes House and it was an interesting experience. Out of all the places, Noyes House seemed to have the most activity, since a group that did an EVP in one of the upper levels had an experience. During the EVP, when the spirit was asked to make its presence known, one of the lights came on by itself. Along the way, the BPI explained natural, logical causes for what seems to be a supernatural occurrence, as well as suggestions on how to try things on your own.

The second Halloween event occurred on the 31^st. The Baltimore Paranormal Investigators came to take the students on a haunted tour of the campus. They began with a presentation on their organization, the field of ghost hunting, as well as the various types of equipment they use, types of hauntings they encounter, etc… After this, they split into a few small groups and went to Noyes House, the swimming pool and the Bell Tower. During the tour, students were offered camcorders, as well as the chance to participate in an EVP. An EVP, also known as “Electronic Voice Phenomena” is when they attempt to communicate with the ghosts through the use of an audio recording device. By the time the tour concluded in the attic on the 6^th floor of Gibbons, I had a good time, whether or not we found anything. I heard stories about the school I had never heard before, I got to see amazing views of the campus and the city as well as trying something different for Halloween other than just going to a party, trick-or-treating or watching scary movies. It was an interesting weekend that mixed conventional and unconventional entertainment to the perfect extent. I’m looking forward to next year’s Monster Mash and hope the BPI comes back again perhaps to find new and stranger things on our own campus.