Urban Legends on College Campuses: An Expository Essay

This essay delves into the realm of college urban legends, exploring their significance in reflecting and shaping student culture within higher education. The paper defines urban legends and identifies two key themes prevalent on college campuses: campus mystery and campus murder. For each theme, the essay provides examples of related stories, analyzing their connection to the universal experiences of trauma and horror. The analysis draws upon research and news articles to support claims, illustrating how these legends serve as a means for students to connect with their institutions and address anxieties. The essay highlights how urban legends, encompassing elements of fiction, crime, and suspense, offer insights into institutional history, culture, and the emotional landscape of college life.

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Urban legends have a unique role in each of the college or university due to the reflection
as well as response towards the contradiction that the young adults faces during that point of
their life. According to the researchers, the urban legends who are campus based tends to have
the potential to construct the culture of the student as well as convey towards higher educational
system. (Majorand Nathaniel 238) in his research study stated that contrary to the name, urban
legend is not similar to the context of urban or city life. The thesis statement - Two themes of
urban legends that exist on college campuses are campus mystery and campus murder; the
universal experience that they represent are trauma and horror.
This section will highlight the theme of campus mystery in link to the urban legends. This
theme is in support with the definition of urban legend since it is similar to oral histories that
passes down which serves as the way for students for feeling closer to the Heritage or towards a
better understanding of their educational institution. The first theme that is commonly found in
college urban legends is campus mystery. One example of a story that fits this theme is a story
found in the article by Zhou. The story is about Georgetown University which highlighted the
rumour of sealing the floor of healy building due to the exorcist which took place at the hospital
of the school in the year 1949. This story fits the theme of campus mystery because the aspect of
this supernatural story telling as per the legends helped the learners to feel a sense of control as
well as the uncertainty which day have been experiencing during their time. Another example of
a story that fits this theme is a story found in the article by Zhou. The story is about Loch ness-

like the creature that reflects how urban legends takes a unique and innovative role towards the
process of reflection as well as response towards contradiction of young adults during their time
and feeling of vulnerable, vibrant and insecure. As stated by Bronner in “Why College Students
Need Their Urban Legends “ by Zhou, these stories are similar to the oral histories. This story
fits the theme of campus mystery because the story passes down at a verbal tone through pieces
and beads as heard by people and retold to the peers. This story helped the students to foster a
deep connection with institution as well as the classmates. By taking a closer look at campus
mystery it becomes clear that the universal experience that it represents is anxiousness. One
example of research/an article that writes about this experience is the news from (Hickey) that
reports/argues that how an electrical engineering professor was found dead in the basement of
the hall which was a mysterious contraption built as the part of the exhibition by student. . This
story shows that the experience of mystery and death in basement of Denny Hall is one that is
common for college students. It is represented in the story though a mystery novel that was
written by Pajer. A second example of research/an article that writes about this experience is the
news from (Swancer et al.) that reports/argues that Ohio university have a haunted and forbidden
dormitory room . This story shows that the experience of terror and scariest places is one that is
common for college students. It is represented in the story though TV show regrading the
dormitory of Wilson Hall.

This section will highlight the theme of campus murder in link to the urban legends. This theme
is in support with the definition of urban legend since these are crime stories which were born to
the legends are taken from the kernel of truth. The context of urban legend towards the theme of
campus murder provides the combination of fiction crime and suspense that can be used for
informing others regarding institutional history and culture on life. The second theme that exists
in college urban legends is the theme of campus murder. One of example of this theme is the
story of kidney thieves is also one of the prominent urban legends among the youth. The story is
about a person who was on a business trip to Europe visits a local bar. This story fits the theme
because this urban legend of the kidney thieves relates to the corrupt practice of organ
trafficking, which is practiced as an illegal racket in many parts of the world. Students from
different regions and staying in the hostel facilities provided by the institutions cannot get
accustomed to the unknown environment easily and may feel unsafe due to the awareness about
such urban legends. For this reason, the institutions may provide these students with helplines,
enabling them to feel protected and safe. Another story about an urban legend can be cited which
is regarding a campus murder. According to this story, two girls live as roommates at a college
hostel. One of the two girls hosts a party at their room which her roommate is not interested in
and therefore retreats to the library. This story fits the theme since this incident can be related to
severe cases of bullying or psychological problems among students. The knowledge of such an
urban legend may cause students living in dorms to feel alarmed and unsafe. As they are paying

for these residence facilities, the institutions must ensure their safety by monitoring the
behaviour of the students and establishing strict codes of conduct. Provision of helplines may
also enable the students to ask for assistance in times of an emergency.
By taking a closer look at the theme of campus murder it becomes clear that the universal
experience that it represents is fear and terror. One example of research/an article that writes
about this experience is the news from ("US Campus Shooting Suspect Charged With Murder")
that reports/argues that four people were injured and two pupil were killed in open firing in the
University of North Carolina. This story shows that the experience of murder and assault is one
that is common for college students. It is represented in the story though the news article where a
19 year old man has been accused of the shooting. A second example of research/an article that
writes about this experience is the news article from ("Indian-American Student Sexually
Assaulted, Strangulated To Death In Chicago") that reports/argues that an Indian -American
pupil was being sexually assaulted and then strangulated to death in Chicago. This story shows
that the experience of assault is one that is common for college students. It is represented in the
story though brutal murder which has shocked the entire community in the entire United States.
Thus it can be summarized that towards understanding the role of urban legends as an unique
perspective towards higher education, it is to know that urban legends provide thorough
combination regarding life at universities and colleges.

References
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