Student on the street: What are the urban legends and myths of OSU?

Oregon State University is known for a plethora of urban legends sprinkled throughout its Corvallis campus. Here are some of OSU’s students and professors’ favorites.

According to Professor Jennine Livengood and her spouse Jonathan Rosa, OSU’s campus seems to be the place to be if you want to experience some paranormal activity.

Jennine Livengood discusses local urban legends at the Memorial Union Quad on Oct. 17, 2023. Livengood demonstrated the hand of a ghost that was seen in a photograph taken at Ballard Hall. (Taylor Cockrell, OMN Photographer)

Originally built as a women’s dorm in 1921, Ballard Extension Hall has become home to a friendly ghost it seems.

After one of the steam pipes burst in the Ballard Hall basement, a few employees went down to take a look and ended up snapping a photo of the damage, Livengood explained, however, it was not until they looked back at the photo that they saw a ghastly hand caught in the photograph.

“They say it’s our protective ghost,” Livengood said, with a smile on her face. “I feel protected there.”

Rosa did not exhibit the same comforting feeling.

Jonathan Rosa talks about legends of Corvallis at the Memorial Union Quad on Oct. 17, 2023. Rosa mentioned a ghost rumored to be in Ballard Hall. (Taylor Cocrkell, OMN Photographer)

“I wouldn’t go down there by myself,” Rosa said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Community Club Counselor Bethany Shelton agreed with Rosa.

Bethany Shelton sits outside the Student Experience Center Plaza discussing Corvallis legends on Oct. 17, 2023. Shelton brought up the haunted dorms, particularly emphasizing Weatherford Hall.

“I do not know if I would ever go to any of the basements of any of the dorms here,” Shelton said.

When things go bump at OSU, we can’t help but wonder as to who or what was the cause.

In addition to haunted buildings and basements, another pique of interest appeared to be the underground tunnels that stretch below OSU’s campus.

For many it seems to serve as a place of intrigue and exploration as environmental science major CJ Mullens commented after explaining he heard the tale from a friend, “that would be cool though, just like go scope the area.”

CJ Mullens stands by the Memorial Union Quad discussing local urban legends on Oct. 17, 2023. Mullens talked about the rumored underground tunnels in Corvallis.
(Taylor Cockrell, OMN Photographer)

For others, the tunnels are thought to be secret pathways for our Starship robots.

Public health major Mazzy Mason, recalled the bizarreness of seeing a starship through one of the opened grates that leads into the tunnels.

Mazzy Mason sits outside the Student Experience Center Plaza on Oct. 17, 2023. Mason mentioned the Starship robots going to underground tunnels. (Taylor Cockrell, OMN Photographer)

“I thought, I saw this, maybe I was having a fever dream,” Mason said.

She believed the tunnels that went all the way around campus had Starships roaming around in them.

“They’re gonna take over one day for sure,” Mason said.

Moving away from spooky places on campus, Consciousness Reeder, a natural resources major, commented on his hopes to see “a real Benny beaver,” in one of the creeks by the Oak Creek Center for Urban Horticulture.