As October rolls around and the leaves begin to change colors, excitement runs through the brisk air, encouraging people to gather and tell ghost stories. After experiencing a personal encounter with a ghost lurking through the dark halls of Dana Auditorium, I am here to provide my own.

Odds are a majority of the Guilford College community has heard the story of a ghost that haunts Dana Auditorium. For those who have not, there truly is a history behind this ghost story.

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse was a Revolutionary War battle fought on March 15, 1781. The battle resulted in a British victory, and many soldiers from both sides were wounded and killed.

“According to Mary Hobb’s recollections, there were between 125 and 150 casualties during that skirmish,” said Friends Center Director Max Carter. “We know that there were scores and scores of (soldiers) killed and wounded in those battles.”

One of these lost lives was a soldier named Lucas, who is said to have died in a hospital that once stood where Dana Auditorium now stands.

Lucas visits Dana on a random schedule, making stops on the second floor landing, the Moon Room, the choir room and the Dana Auditorium.

As far as we know, Lucas is by no means malicious but is known to protect the auditorium.

He communicates through playing the piano, walking through hallways, messing with door locks and making knocking noises.

Frank Massey, IFP gifts discernment coordinator, has had personal interactions with Lucas in his previous office.

“Lucas likes to hang out particularly on the second- floor landing in Dana,” said Massey. “Either early in the mornings when I had an appointment or later at night when I was leaving I would have a chat with him.”

Public Safety Officer David Gauldin told me of an incident a public safety officer once had on the second-floor landing.

“There was one occasion where a (P-Safe) officer was in the upstairs doorway going into the stairwell,” said Gauldin. “The door was being forced shut, and when he finally flung it open, no one was behind the door.”

Lucas is not the only spirit that roams the halls of Dana, however.

The spirits of two little girls have revealed themselves to students on multiple occasions in the darkness of night. One of the spirits tends to be seen out on the stairs of Dana at night. The other is known to make her presence on the auditorium stage.

Whenever they are spotted, spectators have noted that they are dressed in all white with dark hair. Both spirits are known to be much more malevolent than their ghostly counterpart Lucas.

On a recent October evening, Ben Winstead, Corey Gordy and I ventured through Dana Auditorium. We decided to ask aloud if any ghost were there with us. We called out to Lucas first and waited for a response.

Nothing.

We then proceeded to ask if any other spirits were there with us, hopeful that we could get a response.

Each of  us heard two distinct knocks.

“I was skeptical before to say that Dana could actually be haunted,” said Gordy. “Having personally experienced (the ghost), that definitely changed my mind.”

Despite the many accusations and stories that have been spread throughout campus, some students are still doubtful of the existence of supernatural beings in Dana.

“No, I do not believe Dana is haunted,” said sophomore Austin Seibert. “I have never believed in ghosts or haunts, but I do still think the story of Dana Auditorium is interesting.”

So, what do you think? Many students and faculty members have shared personal experiences with the ghosts lurking in Dana Auditorium.

In this case, seeing may just be believing.