A crowd of students gathered around Southern Utah University’s Old Main on the upper quad on Friday, Oct 18. Hosted by the Student Alumni Association, the crowd completed an SUU tradition, saw the Ghost of Old Main, Virginia Loomis, and were able to get some hot chocolate and popcorn while listening to ghost stories.
The Ghost of Old Main is an event hosted by the SAA every year meant to commemorate the University’s most famous ghost story as part of SUU’s Tradition Keeper initiative, a program aimed at helping students experience the many traditions that the University and Cedar City have to offer. Students are given a scorecard with 50 traditions to track and receive prizes along the way. After all 50, students are given the chance to wear a Tradition Keeper stole at their commencement ceremony.
Leah Crossley, the Tradition Chair for the SAA, said, “It highlights some of the background we have and our history…having Virginia just sort of brings everyone together, it’s really fun.”
When midnight struck, Jared Wilcken, an SUU Academic Advisor, stood on the stairs of Old Main to tell the full story of Virginia and share recollections of ghost sightings involving her within the building. The story was accompanied by flashing lights and sound effects around the
exterior of the building.
The story tells of the tragic murder of Virginia Loomis, a resident of Cedar City in 1898. Bricks that
were used to build Old Main, the building in the center of SUU’s campus, are said to contain the soul of Virginia as they were hewn from the rocks of where she was murdered.
When the story concluded, students were met with more flashing lights and sound effects as a figure in a white dress with long, dark hair appeared in the windows of Old Main. The figure appeared at opposite ends of the building as more lights flashed, then disappeared as the lights cut out.
To learn more about SUU’s Traditions and keep up to date with tradition events, check out the Tradition Keeper webpage.
Author: Tallon Taylor
Editor: Heather Turner
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
Photos by Tallon Taylor and Heather Turner
life@suunews.net
