Uncovering Fisher's fabled urban legends
By Tori Parmenter
Last Updated:4:43 PM EST 4/22/09 Section: Fisher through the years
Ever heard the rumor that Kearney is haunted? Have you ever wondered why Fisher doesn't have a pool or a track? And why don't Founders or Keough have overhead lights? Most of us have speculated about these questions, amongst others.
Mike McCarthy, Director of Safety and Security was asked about the suspected haunting in Kearney. According to McCarthy, rumors of K-400 being haunted were sparked and are fueled by "reports that the lights would come on unexplainably and unidentified noises were heard coming from the room." However, no actual reports have been filed with security regarding the rumors.
McCarthy also commented on the bar rumored to have been on campus. This legend is in fact true. According to McCarthy, when the drinking age was 18 years old, the basement of Kearney was a bar. "This area was a cafeteria during the day and a pub at night," McCarthy said. However, the pub was shut down when the drinking age was raised to 21. The area was then converted in a computer lab during the 1990s when the cafeteria was moved to Ward/Haffey.
Director of Residential Life Terri Panepento also offered the same information regarding the on-campus bar. She also said that in her 10 years of service at Fisher, the rumored drunk bus has never existed.
"There was a bus at one point sponsored by a bar. It couldn't come on campus, but it came near campus," Panepento said.
It was eventually done away with because of the concerns surround it and underage drinking.
Panepento was also able to give information on some of the questions surrounding the residence halls. According to her, Founders and Keough do not have overhead lights because of student request.
"Student focus groups were formed when building the dorms. We found that students didn't want 'doctor lights.' They wanted to be able to control the lighting and use their own," Panepento said.
Therefore, Founders was built without any overhead lights. Keough, however, has entry lights to offer some light without it being overbearing.
Mike McCarthy, Director of Safety and Security was asked about the suspected haunting in Kearney. According to McCarthy, rumors of K-400 being haunted were sparked and are fueled by "reports that the lights would come on unexplainably and unidentified noises were heard coming from the room." However, no actual reports have been filed with security regarding the rumors.
McCarthy also commented on the bar rumored to have been on campus. This legend is in fact true. According to McCarthy, when the drinking age was 18 years old, the basement of Kearney was a bar. "This area was a cafeteria during the day and a pub at night," McCarthy said. However, the pub was shut down when the drinking age was raised to 21. The area was then converted in a computer lab during the 1990s when the cafeteria was moved to Ward/Haffey.
Director of Residential Life Terri Panepento also offered the same information regarding the on-campus bar. She also said that in her 10 years of service at Fisher, the rumored drunk bus has never existed.
"There was a bus at one point sponsored by a bar. It couldn't come on campus, but it came near campus," Panepento said.
It was eventually done away with because of the concerns surround it and underage drinking.
Panepento was also able to give information on some of the questions surrounding the residence halls. According to her, Founders and Keough do not have overhead lights because of student request.
"Student focus groups were formed when building the dorms. We found that students didn't want 'doctor lights.' They wanted to be able to control the lighting and use their own," Panepento said.
Therefore, Founders was built without any overhead lights. Keough, however, has entry lights to offer some light without it being overbearing.
Be the first to comment on this story