December 2012
Penn State Beaver Roar
Page 11
Features The lady in white? Some say spirits still roam campus grounds Monica M. Pitcher Senior Staff Writer
mmp5317@psu.edu
PENN STATE PHOTO
The Michael Baker Building takes shape in front of the Penn State Beaver Administration Building in 1967.
History: From hospital to campus Continued from Page 10
located where the old maintenance building used to be,” said Director of Finance and Business Luke Taiclet. According to Taiclet, their pulmonary systems would be extracted and autopsied for further analysis and, afterwards, their organs would be thrown into the incinerator in order to not spread the disease. The bodies would be taken to be embalmed, which used to be done in the underground building below the concrete slab, what was then the basement to the sanatorium.
The work of the Wilsons helped rid Beaver County of TB, which resulted in the discontinuation of the sanatorium in the mid-1950s. After the closing of the sanatorium, the building housed wounded veterans and was known to the public as the “old vet’s hospital,” according to Taiclet. Taiclet also said that the hospital was viewed more as a “half-way house,” meaning wounded veterans with missing limbs that returned home from war would go there. It was a place where families could stay while they figured out what to do next and ease into the
idea of their loved ones being disabled. At the time, the county was populated with mills, so if you couldn’t see or walk, or couldn’t operate machinery with your hands, you couldn’t work. The last patients were transferred to the Beaver County Geriatric Center in 1963. Two years later, Penn State Beaver opened its doors to 97 students. They began classes in the fall in the old Administration Building, which used to be located where the TB hospital once stood at the center of the quad.
On a site where wounded war veterans and tuberculosis patients once were, it would be no surprise that there is believed to be some paranormal activity taking place. For years, students have spoken of a ghost, known as “the lady in white,” being spotted in the quad and in the hallway of the old Administration Building, which used to be located at the center of the quad. It is rumored the ghost is a young girl who died while being treated within the sanatorium. Her last sighting was half a decade ago, according to Luke Taiclet, director of finance and business. Taiclet also recalled a spirit that was never seen but felt within the old maintenance building, formerly located between the Ross Administration Building parking lot and the Laboratory Classroom Building. “Anyone that would stand close to the area where the fireplace
was located would have this feeling of sadness and malicious dread washed over them,” said Taiclet. No occurrence was ever reported after the building was torn down. Meanwhile, on the other side of campus in Harmony Hall, students said that they have taken part in some personal paranormal encounters. “It was midnight, and I could hear something rustling through my roommate’s stuff,” said freshman Emily Winters. “I was so scared because my roommate wasn’t there that night.” Winters also said that she has a lamp in her room that can only be turned on and off if you turn the switch, and it mysteriously turned on and off by itself one night. Sophomore Danielle Joyner has had a similar experience. “I’ve heard voices on a few occasions,” said Joyner. “One night I was walking back to my room and I thought I had heard a man’s voice say ‘oh my gosh,’ but when I turned around to look there was nobody there.”
Students deal with the pressures of finals week Cameron Boggs Staff Writer
cgb5148@psu.edu
When people think of finals, they think of it as a “do-or-die” situation. Like game 7 of the World Series, the NBA Finals or the Super Bowl. Finals, which begin Dec. 17, can be either a big boost for the grade or a big slump. Freshman Taylor Larson said she expects her psychology final will be the hardest. “It’s a complex class. I’ll probably do OK. It’s hard, but I like it,” she said. Freshman Dennis Habrle said he thinks his geology final will be the most challenging. “It’s going
to be really hard because everyone is failing that class. It also might drop my grade, which is a worry,” he said. Not only are finals hard, but they can be very stressful. People can suffer anxiety from taking finals. National Health Ministries shows that stress can affect a person’s emotional and physical well-being. Drug and alcohol usage could increase as well. Jill Tress, Learning Center and Disabilities Services Coordinator, said that stress can cause test anxiety. “Test anxiety can cause a whiteout feeling where your mind goes completely blank,” she said. Tress said they’re things students
can do to combat test anxiety. “To relieve stress, do anti-stress exercises before you go to bed. Get enough sleep the night before the test and eat something with protein,” she added. Another way to reduce stress is to find an activity that can be positive, like working out. When you work out, it counterbalances stress. Freshman Tyler Tracy said finals might make him stressful. “If I procrastinate, finals will be stressful. If I start studying a few weeks prior to finals, I won’t be too worried; however, if I wait until the night before each final, I will be in panic mode,” he said Freshman Marissa Fitzpatrick
said that she works really hard. “Since my math final is optional, I work extra hard to get good grades so I don’t have to take it,” she said Freshman Eva Delt doesn’t feel she will be stressed out for finals. “I’ll do my part in studying. You have to be confident. If you do your part in studying, you shouldn’t have a problem.” Students have a lot of ways of studying. Sophomore Nick Polio is prepared for finals. “If I have the right mindset and plan, finals can be quite manageable,” he said. To reduce stress, Tress offered test-taking tips that may help you to overcome test anxiety and do
better on your finals. Among her tips is to study in an organized space, make a schedule and stick with it, make and use note cards and get friends to join or create a study group. Last but not least, re-read notes and highlight key terms, Tress said. Freshman Katie Dennis said that she always remembers what her dad told her. “He tells me to stick my nose to the grindstone,” she said. Assistant Professor of Earth and Mineral Science Matthew Grunstra said that students should study for finals like it’s a regular test. “It’s longer than a normal test, but do whatever you do to study for a regular exam.