In this Supernatural issue, two foolhardy journalists scouted out ‘scary places’ in NUS, to no obvious detriment to their health or sanity. They didn’t find ghouls, but…
It was a disconcerting task to identify ‘scary places’ in NUS. There are many places around NUS we consider rightfully scary.
The study rooms are horrifying; with all those people ardently studying away, looking like zombies on a bad hair day. Come to think of it, there are so many people around NUS we find scary, not least the wild-haired zombies. Nevertheless, this article deals with the supernatural frightening spots. So we’ll concentrate on that, shall we?
When we were gathering information about spots around our campus which might
play host to grouchy ghouls, we got wildly disparate answers. Just
about every nook and cranny has its fair share of supernatural tenants.
However, certain places were whispered about more than others. Unsurprisingly, there was also a hint of something decidedly ghostly about these
particular locations.
The Architecture
building, within the School of Design and Environment, is a dark,
silent spot. The architecture students, who spend most of their time
sequestered in studios, have probably never seen much of the natural light, as they
work mostly by night and spend the days resting (or recuperating). This
is in itself pretty spooky.
We spoke to a few students, and they told
us that there was something sinister about level 5 of the Architecture
building. Every time they tried to renovate that level, someone died.
They spoke of this in hushed tones, as if trying not to enrage the
spirits, or worse, the professors.
We hesitantly climbed up
to the fifth level, wanting to investigate. As we climbed the dark
stairwell and reached the landing just below the fifth level, we saw a
figure lying prostrate on the floor, swaddled in blankets, guarding the
door to that level. The figure stirred and turned towards us slowly...
We were a little spooked.
It was the cleaning lady,
having a nap. She told us in a raspy, irritated voice, that there was
nothing up there. The door was locked. How strange, we thought, as though something
was being covered up...
 We had a similar
encounter at the USP (University Scholars Programme)
building, as we approached a security guard for ghostly stories.
Rather evasively, he declined to recount any complete ghostly stories,
but suggested that pontianaks were indeed plentiful in the building,
and coyly hinted at mahjong-playing ones. It was terribly hush-hush. We
personally think some of the beings he thought were pontianaks were
merely haggard looking USP students. It's a mistake just anyone could
make.
Every hall of residence
in NUS has its own ghost stories as well, though all roughly similar.
The former Kent
Ridge Hall has a female ghost that wails and screams while looking for
her child. King Edward VII Hall houses the spirit of a peeping tom
which can't rest in peace.
The previous Sheares Hall, now the vice
chancellor's office, is also supposedly haunted. Upon approaching the
staff at the new Sheares Hall, we were told that the haunting was one of the reasons why
they moved to new premises. However, they were apprehensive to tell us
anymore, ominously hinting about not stirring up trouble.
The ghost stories from
the Halls tend to be unoriginal. The same thing repeats itself - wails
and wisps, likely the contrived product of a bored (and/or overstressed)
Hall population eager to titillate newcomers and add spice to an
otherwise staid Hall. Nothing spruces up the utilitarian and
unimaginative buildings that house the Halls than a ghoul or two (if
house-elves are not to be had).
Forgive our scepticism, but that's our
take. The lack of actual eye-witnesses and originality further serve to
negate their credibility.
Nonetheless, it should be
said that some of these buildings do seem eerie enough that the idea of
ghosts is not laughably preposterous. There are dark dank spots that
may have night-time noises and spooky occurrences plausibly attributed
to fevered imaginations.
However, it doesn't have anything
substantially or conclusively ‘scary' - other than the muggers of
course, who are substantial enough to be very afraid of. Hooked
Disclaimer: The views
expressed in this article are the opinions of the authors and are not
meant to be taken personally but with a sense of humour. For those
without one, our deepest sympathies.
|
Written by shippoCY88 on 2007-09-02 21:33:56
What about those research centres (those small buildings) near PGPR? Did anyone check them out? I heard that they were haunted. |
|
