The Legends, Myths and Quirks of Marist College
Students walking in the Rotunda carefully avoid the seal on at the center of the floor — and perhaps for good reason. Photo by Emma Cornfeldt 26’.
From ghosts to groundhogs, plenty of rumors float around the Marist College campus. These myths and legends have been whispered amongst students and faculty members for generations and are always open to interpretation and mystery — until now, perhaps. Interviews with ten Marist community members reveal unique responses, each revealing the truth about the campus folklore.
As the spooky season comes upon us, the ghost of Sheahan Hall finds itself at the center of attention. Legend has it that Shelley lives on the third floor of the freshman building, where she enjoys sneaking through the bathrooms, lingering through the hallways, and peeking into an unsuspecting student’s dorm room.
But before adopting her infamous ghoulish persona, Shelley was a freshman at Marist in 1974. That year, she was shot in the campus cafeteria by her ex-boyfriend Louis O. Acevedo, who had been stalking her since she broke up with him.
Out of the ten people interviewed, all knew well of Shelley’s presence. “I heard about it like all the other freshmen, from other students,” said Micheal Coppola, music professor.
The older sister of Liam Layng ’26 used to live in Sheahan and had what can only be described as a harrowing personal experience with Shelley. “She was showering, and all the lights turned off, no one was in the shower or bathroom, and the lights flickered two or three times.”
With tales like these, staying away from Sheahan might be the safest choice. “A girl I knew who was a year older than me told me not to pick it because it was haunted,” said Abby McLaughlin ’25.
But Red Foxes may be more privy to a seemingly less haunting pretense — the Marist seal slated on the center of the floor of the rotunda building.
The Marist seal on the Rotunda floor sits at the middle of a debate about fate.Photo by Emma Cornfeldt 26’.
It is a well-known fact (or fantasy) that if a student steps on it, they will not graduate on time. All interviewees knew of this legend, but not many believed it. “No, I know people who stepped on it and graduated on time,” said Benjamin Cicione ’26.
Can a platinum round silver seal determine one’s success? There is only one obvious way to find out, but people still refuse to do so when following their instincts. “I do not think it is true, but I still do not step on it just in case because why tempt fate,” said Coppola.
Besides all this talk of destiny, a sweeter myth spreads around campus — but not by students.
Groundhogs are all over the campus grounds. Whether gazing out a dorm room window or taking a nice stroll down to the river, the chances of encountering one are always high.
That leads to the “Secret City.” When it is time for them to head back into their homes for the evening or when a snowfall requires them to huddle back inside, they retreat to a huge underground network of tunnels running under campus. This “Secret City,” as it is called, is quite the marvel — supposedly
“I believe that there has to be so many holes in the ground,” said Layng.
“I want to believe it, but I don’t,” Francesco Ingrassia ’26.
We might never be able to discern fact from fiction on campus, but perhaps adopting a different perspective is all that is needed. As Cicione said, maybe we just need to put ourselves in the shoes (or holes) of the groundhogs.
“It is not a city to us, but technically for them, it is.”
A Marist Groundhog peeking out of its home by the river. Photo by Emma Cornfeldt 26’.