PANICd#: 2174
| The university was established in 1910 as a normal school. The first classes were held in 1912 at various locations and in temporary buildings in Kent. |
800 E Summit St
Kent , OH 44240
Open to the public: Yes
Lat: 41.147202
Lon: -81.348083
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 2
Claims: 15
Evidence: 0
Resources: 3
Retrievals: 69421
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio located in Ashtabula, Burton, East Liverpool, Jackson Township, New Philadelphia, Salem, and Warren, along with additional regional and international facilities in Cleveland, Independence, and Twinsburg, Ohio; New York City; and Florence, Italy.
The university was established in 1910 as a normal school. The first classes were held in 1912 at various locations and in temporary buildings in Kent, and the first buildings of the original campus opened the following year. Since that time, the university has grown to include many additional baccalaureate and graduate programs of study in the arts and sciences, research opportunities, as well as over 1,000 acres (405 ha) and 119 buildings on the Kent campus. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the university was known internationally for its student activism in opposition to U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, due mainly to the Kent State shootings in 1970.
Added by: sdonley on 05/02/2025 DB#:744
Source(s):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_Universit...
Stories are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location.
There are several paranormal reports from all over the campus. The following is a listing of some of those reports:
Allyn Hall—The first floor of Allyn Hall is haunted by a little girl named Sarah. She roams the halls, tugging on bed sheets, and asks people to play with her.
Clark Hall—Being attached to Allyn Hall, Sarah is also said to roam this building.
Engleman Hall—Built as an all-girl dorm in the 1930s, the ghost of a girl who was reportedly raped and murdered there in the 1940s-50s is said to wander the halls at night. She sometimes appears behind you as a reflection in the mirror.
Koonce Hall—The building’s namesake, Judy Koonce, is said to haunt the building. She died while saving a child during a flood years ago. Today her ghost opens elevator doors and is respectful towards people she likes. She isn’t friendly to those who are loud or destructive.
Moulton Hall— A ghostly blue light is often seen floating around on the third floor, causing police to respond multiple times.
Music and Speech Building—Room B-005 is said to be haunted by multiple ghosts. One of the ghosts who haunts the room is that of G. Harry Wright, the original theater director at the university. When his ghost is present, the smell of cigar smoke lingers, even though the facility has been smoke-free for over a decade.
Stopher Hall—This building was haunted by the ghost of a student who committed suicide. Students who got sick would blame the ghost. Objects moved on their own, and a figure could sometimes be seen out of the corner of your eye. The original building was demolished and replaced with a new building in 2006. No further experiences have been reported since then.
Stuart Hall—This abandoned dorm, not far from the student center, is said to be haunted. Windows are broken, bars secure the doors to discourage trespassing, and vines grow up the side of the building. Strange noises are heard coming from inside, and light can sometimes be seen coming from a window even though no one has been in the building for several years.
Van Campen Hall—This residence hall is full of ghostly activity. Giggling and laughter can be heard constantly at night, along with the sound of marbles hitting the floor. Mysterious reflections have even been seen in the bathroom mirrors.
Added by: sdonley on 05/02/2025 DB#:1701
Source(s):
https://www.ohioexploration.com/paranormal/hauntin...
Kent State University in Ohio has a rich history, and like many older campuses, it has its share of ghost stories and legends. Some of these stories are tied to tragic events in the university’s past, including the infamous May 4, 1970 shootings. Here are a few of the most well-known ghost stories associated with Kent State:
The Ghosts of May 4th—One of the most commonly mentioned hauntings at Kent State centers around the May 4, 1970, shootings, where four students were killed by the National Guard during a protest against the Vietnam War. People claim to see shadowy figures or feel cold spots near the memorial site or on Blanket Hill. Some have reported hearing unexplained gunshots or voices crying out. Paranormal investigators and some students believe the intense emotional energy of the event left a lingering spiritual presence.
Kent Hall - one of the oldest buildings on campus—is rumored to be haunted. Witnesses have reported hearing footsteps, whispers, and doors opening or slamming shut. Some think the phenomenon may be due to the building's use during wartime training periods or its proximity to the May 4th events.
Terrace Hall—This residence hall, now demolished, was also a source of ghost stories. Students once reported lights flickering, objects moving, and disembodied voices. A common tale involved a girl who supposedly hanged herself in one of the rooms.
Rockwell Hall-Home to the School of Fashion Design, this building is said to be haunted by a female spirit. The elevators move on their own, mannequins turn or move slightly, and people feel like they are being watched late at night.
The Haunted Tunnel—an old steam tunnel system—runs under parts of the campus and has its lore. Urban legends say people have heard strange noises and seen apparitions in the tunnels. Some stories suggest students disappeared after entering.
Added by: sdonley on 05/02/2025 DB#:1702
Source(s):
Various
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, your account must have contributor access or higher.
| Claim# | Claim |
| 3782 | The apparition of a little girl is seen in Allyn Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3783 | The apparition of a little girl is seen in Clark Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3784 | The apparition of a woman appears behind some at Engleman Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3785 | The apparition of a woman is respectful to those she likes, but not happy with those who are loud and destructive in Koonce Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3786 | Police have been called several times to Moulton Hall for a mysterious floating blue light.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3787 | Cigar smoke is detected in Room B-005 of the Music and Speech Building.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3788 | Stopher Hall, now demolished, had several paranormal claims.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3789 | Strange lights and sounds have been heard coming from Stuart Hall, although it has been abandoned for years.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3790 | Giggling and laughing has been heard at night at Van Campen Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3791 | The sounds of marbles hitting the floor have been heard at Van Campen Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3792 | Mysterious reflections in mirrors have been witnessed at Van Campen Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3793 | Sounds of gunfire and screams have been heard at the May 4th shooting locations.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3794 | Footsteps, whispers, and doors opening or slamming shut have been witnessed at Kent Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3795 | Elevators move on their own, mannequins turn or move slightly, and people feel like they are being watched late at night in the Rockwell Hall.
Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
| 3796 | Strange noises and apparitions have been heard and seen in the tunnels under the campus. Added: 05/03/2025 By: sdonley |
Paranormal evidence is based on claims that have been reported for this location. There can be several types of evidence; however, we have grouped them based on media type for better organization. Here you will find evidence that are logs, audio, video, or photographic.
To add evidence for a claim, you must submit it to PANICd.com for approval to be entered into the database.
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This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| Wikipedia Entry | Wikipedia entry for this location. |
| Added: 05/02/2025 By: sdonley | |
| my lil ghost buddy from kent state university | A ghost report posted on Reddit. |
| Added: 05/02/2025 By: sdonley | |
| Portage County Hauntings & Legends – Ohio Exploration Society | Information about paranormal activity is listed on OhioExploration.com. |
| Added: 05/02/2025 By: sdonley | |
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