The Haunting of Elmhurst University: Uncovering the Campus Mysteries

With its scenic campus and rich history, Elmhurst University may be hiding more than just its charm. As Halloween approaches, you might feel that unsettling sensation creeping up, making you wonder if you are being watched by the spirits that roam our campus.

With a campus as vibrant and full of life as EU, it may be surprising to know that some students describe their feelings on this campus as “eerie” and “dark.” This could be due to numerous things, but primarily due to the nearby cemetery, St. Peter’s.

Founded in 1871, EU began to grow into a wonderful campus. However, with the creation of St. Peter’s, which was later established in 1878, some things began to change. It leaves us to wonder—although hundreds of years have passed, are these spirits still looking for closure?

Former resident and alumni Gabriella Pacocha spoke out and said  “I never believed in that stuff until it happened to me. I lived in West Hall, which was the dorm building facing the cemetery, and the things that I had happen to me were almost unbelievable.”

She went on to describe repetitive nightmares she and her roommates shared, as well as things such as lights flickering, boxes falling, and water running.

“There was one day that I was home alone and our storage closet completely shut by itself. If you’ve been in West you know that those doors are heavy. When it’s wide open, it’s not like the wind could have blown it. It needs a strong force to fully move, let alone even lock. Everything on the shelves fell too, and no movement in the room occurred to have caused it. It was the scariest thing.” Gabriella described.

It’s almost as if there was a force in the room that day, even if it wasn’t a human…

St. Peter’s Cemetery is home to over 225 headstones and is a designated place where the remains of people who have died, are laid to rest forever. As somber as it may be, what inspired this cemetery to be built in the middle of a college campus?

Alessia Guglielmi, former roommate to Pacocha described her take on the situation as well.

“Every time I enter my room I have this feeling that I’m never alone. Our dorm itself is usually warm, yet our bedroom is always about 10 degrees colder. I sit in bed with chills every night and I don’t know why,” Guglielmi stated.

Oddly enough, one of the most common signs of the presence of ghosts is a cold draft of air around you… this can cause your hair to stick up, goosebumps to form, and heart rate rise.

Guglielmi described other strange occurrences she experienced while living in West Hall. “Our water would randomly start dripping in the shower at night, and our lights would sporadically turn on. Those lights are motion-sensored, and if we weren’t walking around that dorm, then who was?”

With the haunting continuing, Pacocha’s mother had grown concerned. Raised in a Catholic home, she was very religious and believed that holy water could protect them from any negative energy coming their way.

On December 6, 2023, she entered the dorm, sprinkled holy water throughout the room, and tossed salt around. The tradition of throwing salt over the left shoulder is an old superstition believed to protect against bad luck and evil spirits. Since then, the paranormal activity has stopped.

Is that a coincidence? Or were the spirits finally pushed away?

Along with West, Niebuhr Hall is rumored to be haunted as well. Around 10-15 years ago, it was said (not proven) that a student named Becky took her own life in her dorm during Thanksgiving break.

EU housing keeps quiet about the incident and doesn’t reveal which dorm it occurred in to avoid deterring potential residents. Students have reported flickering lights, doors opening on their own, and shadows darting down the hallways.

Some residential advisors even sign Becky’s initials on forms as a way to find peace with her spirit. “It just gives us a little sense of peace if she knows that we are not out to get her,” said former Niebuhr RA Linda Lara.

These are just a few of the eerie tales shared, and the list keeps growing. Many of these stories are unbelievable until you experience them yourself. And who knows, you might be the spirit’s next target.

In the end, EU’s rich history is filled with both beauty and mystery. Whether it’s the whispers of the past echoing through the halls or the unexplained events that continue to surface, these ghostly tales add a haunting allure to our beloved campus. As students, faculty, and visitors walk through the grounds of EU, it’s good to remind yourself that you are never truly alone.