Things to Think About While You Study

With final exams swiftly approaching, students are starting to populate the libraries of the SMU campus more and more every night. I often spend my time studying in Fondren Library, as do the majority of students at SMU. It is filled with quiet corners, private study rooms, and hundreds of other areas for students to comfortably study.

The other night, when I was searching for a quiet place to knock out a few chapters in my textbook, I came across a narrow staircase leading to the West Stacks. I had heard others joke about that area before. The rumor across campus is that it is haunted and that mysterious things have taken place in the West Stacks. It's crammed racks filled with old books, and it's dark, narrow stairwells often give people the creeps when studying alone late at night. Reminding myself of those stories, I quickly turned away and found an open table to study at.

Soon after, a friend of mine told me to read the article on the Daily Campus about the suspicions of Fondren and the West Stacks. The article gives several examples of frightening stories that have taken place in Fondren Library. One of the most shocking stories is about how the infamous Umphrey Lee had a heart attack and died while working in the library. People say that the distant footsteps, old dusty books, and hundreds of hidden study corners give them the "creeps." Stories like these turn some people away from Fondren due to superstitions and suspicions of haunting. Although things like this might usually give me an uneasy feeling, it hasn't stopped me from coming back to my favorite quiet place to study. Does the fear of mysterious happenings keep you from studying in Fondren? I've never personally seen or heard anything questionable on my late nights in the quiet corners of the library. Have you ever experienced anything similar to what the rumors say about Fondren Library?