It’s Halloween again, that time of year,

Where hauntings spread a lot of fear.

The prospect of ghosts was quite the allure;

So some Emerald news reporters took a spooky ghost tour.

From scary specters, to people who died;

These legends are straight from the University of Oregon Archives.

Over one hundred years, they’ve managed to last;

These are the ghost stories of UO’s past.
—
Our first story dates back to time out of memory, 

Among some graves in the Pioneer Cemetery.

Students would sneak out to “chill” with their “friends,”

And “hang out” together until the night ends.

But one such account of a very dark night

Turned from one of love, into one of fright!

For one of the lovers looked up in the sky,

And saw a bride floating in the pale moonlight!
Another time in this haunted location,

A person heard a peculiar vocation.

Though it wasn’t a voice; no, ‘twas a different type – 

The sound of the playing of a mournful bagpipe.

As he turned around, a figure was there.

It was as if it came from nowhere.

Wearing black regalia, it continued to play.

When other students approached, it went away.
 

Music bound from UO Grounds.

The enchanting tunes are rarely a cause for fear.

Unless of course, you hear a bagpiper near.

Dressed in black regalia, with evil intentions to scare ‘ya.

The bagpiper appears when students are near.

Stay clear of the grass between Gerlinger and Pioneer.
—
The next spooky tale is quite a true statement:

A skeleton was found in University Hall’s basement.

Thomas Condon, who taught about rocks,

Made a discovery that gave quite a shock.

University Hall was really quite young;

1873 was when construction had begun.
 

So it was strange when Condon found downstairs,

A figure that gave the professor some scares:

A skeleton so clean; its condition so decent;

A skeleton that bony couldn’t be recent!
Further analysis began to tell all;

The body belonged to A. Oakley Hall.

(Not to be confused with the Mayor of New York; 

an A. Oakley Hall once did that for work. 

But there was one difference between the lot;

that Hall was alive, but this one was not.)

But even after this research, more questions remain —

How did University Hall become this man’s grave?
—
Our next spooky yarn is a little bit short —

There once were some noises in MacArthur Court.

A girl carried some boxes downstairs, what a stunt!

When all of a sudden she heard a loud grunt!

In fear of a hunt, she made her escape.

A feat that left her mouth agape.

With it, helped this story take shape.
—
At nearly 100, Knight Library has left many scunnered.

The books and halls can keep many in wonder.

That is until crying cracks through the silence like thunder.

During evenings at Knight, in the basement at night,

A girl can be heard expressing her contrite.

If you hear her, beware. Be sure not to stare.

Take your leave from there as fast as you dare.

The moans will only grow if you stew in this nightmare.
 

Some other ghost stories will start to unfurl;

Did you know there’s one inside the hall Earl?

You’ll feel air on your neck; it’s really quite fun.

But only if you’re in Room 101.