On March 21, the MSU Paranormal Society hosted its third investigation at the Howell Opera House. Club members were equipped with various ghost-hunting tools, including EMF readers, spirit boxes and more.

The Paranormal Society is an extracurricular organization dedicated to investigating the unexplained on campus. Meeting weekly, the club discusses things they find scary, and they have meetings ranging from paranormal jeopardy to water balloon fights. The club acts as a community, hosting both investigations and social events designed to build belonging. 

The investigation at Howell Opera House didn’t begin when the group of students walked in the door; it began much before that when the location was selected for investigation. Days of planning had gone into the process. The club only does a few of these investigations per academic year, so research has to be done beforehand. 

The two co-lead investigators decide on the spots to visit, focusing on haunted locations and cemeteries. Previous locations include Hell’s Bridge and several cemeteries in the local area.

After choosing the Howell Opera House, the co-lead investigators set up the late-night hunt. Once everyone had arrived, the group moved to the second floor of the building, where there were remnants of the opera theatre. The building is in poor condition as restoration efforts await funding. While the building was safe for exploration, some parts of the floor were covered in broken glass and scraps of wood, and many of the steps sagged when stepped on.

Split into two floors, the lower floor opened up into a stage with room to stand on the lower floor and balcony-style seats on the second floor. The group split into two, with one group investigating the lower level and stage while the other explored the upper level. 

Investigating relics of the past on the walls of the theatre, a group of students held an EMF reader towards a spirit box they had placed in the corner. As the radio switched between hundreds of frequencies, the group asked it questions. The intended idea with a spirit box is that any response heard through the frequency changes is communication with a paranormal entity. 

After asking many different questions to the box and hearing some possible answers, the group began other types of investigation, such as examining old materials left on the stage and looking through names on a long list, hoping to find something that fits what they heard from the spirit box. 

Later in the night, the groups converged on the lower floor of the opera hall. Sitting in a circle, they placed the spirit box and another specialty item they use — a stuffed bear with voice lines based on temperature or touch — in the center. Several students asked questions, including “Is anyone there?” and “Did you die here?” After an unsuccessful series of questions, the group continued their investigation.

Several members pointed out a white apparition on the wall at the far end of the stage. After further consideration and deliberation, they eventually realized it wasn’t a ghost at all, but rather a reflection of a traffic light at the corner of the window.

Deciding at this point to end the investigation, the group left Howell Opera House to return to East Lansing.