Lights that flicker back on after being switched off, toilets flushing in empty bathrooms, and scribbles reappearing on freshly cleaned whiteboards have long fueled rumors at South. For members of Paranormal Club, the strange activity near the English Department hallway is more than casual small talk. It is part of what keeps the club curious about the unknown, senior Amy Patton, Club President, said.
Paranormal Club meets every Wednesday after school in Room 2329. Students discuss supernatural topics, settle in for presentations, and watch horror and paranormal films, Patton said. However, opinions differ on whether South is truly haunted. The stories come up often during meetings, Patton said.
“I don’t know if I believe it, but I have been told that the English office is haunted,” Patton said. “Lights will be turned on that were off when custodians left, they’ll clean the whiteboards and come back to find scribbles all over them, or every toilet in the bathroom will flush at once when nobody’s there.”
Since the club’s founding, it has shifted from watching paranormal reality shows to building a community focused on curiosity, storytelling, and all things eerie, Joseph Mulloy, Paranormal Club Sponsor and Job Coach, said. The club has continued to evolve as new leaders bring in fresh ideas, he added. Ghost hunts were once part of the club’s activities, and members used equipment like Electronic Voice Phenomena meters to detect electromagnetic energy, but now Paranormal Club meetings usually center on student presentations about ghosts, cryptids, or alien encounters, Mulloy said.
This year, Mulloy is planning to lead a workshop on ghouling, which involves modifying props to make them look realistic for haunted houses, he said. The club also hopes to revive its traditional ghost hunt and eventually return to favorite outings like Windy City Ghosts Chicago ghost tours, Mulloy added. Members are especially eager to bring back their annual trip to Fright Fest at Six Flags next year, Patton said.
While eerie stories may draw students into the club, the strongest part of the experience is the friendships that develop, Patton said. Members connect over their love of the supernatural, and meetings give students a comfortable, non-judgmental space to share stories, ideas, and experiences they may not feel able to discuss elsewhere, Mulloy said.
“This is a safe place to share things you might not feel comfortable sharing elsewhere,” Mulloy said. “We’re not going to make fun of anyone. Some stories might be imaginary, but some are very interesting.”