On any weekday, the Umphrey Lee Center (Umph) is full of the bustle of students. In between classes, hundreds of students move into the halls, bringing sounds of talking, laughing, and moving about.

Eerie

Later, when the night classes end, the halls are empty and silent. Umph at night is calming but eerie.

One dark night, about 10:30p, I was working alone in my office when suddenly the sounds of students filled the halls. Shaken but curious, I stepped into the hallway to see where the noises were coming from. Nothing! Not a soul. A completely empty hallway. But the noises persisted.

Sudden Silence

A young woman screaming at night

As quickly as it started, it stopped, and I watched in stunned silence as all of the classroom doors loudly slammed shut. Not just one but numerous doors.

Nervously I ventured down the hall and heard voices inside as I passed each classroom. Should I open one of the doors to see what was inside?

Have you ever felt the hairs on the back of your neck bristle and stand up? Mine were literally tingling.

I really wanted to see what was going on inside those rooms. I mustered my courage and went into Umph 243. The noises stopped, and the room instantly went dark.

Nope!

That was it. As much as I like playing with ghosties, this was too much. So I quickly gathered my things and hurried down the back stairs. Looking back on the building, I saw faces peering out of the classroom windows.

I composed myself on my drive home, then remembered I have a night class in that building again next week. I shuttered.

Next time I’ll leave Umph with the students and avoid being alone.

If you have encountered anything weird in Umphrey Lee (Umph), please tell us in the comments below.

Steve Lee
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