Studio Blog

With some requests on the forum brewing, here are a couple of examples of the "list" format below, written by your very own Demand Studios editors. If there are any questions or comments please let us know - Liana L.A. County’s College Hauntings

By Soren Bowie

Probability suggests that the longer an institution is around, the more likely it is to host a death. Institutions of higher learning are no exception to this rule, plus they traditionally house a young community whose deaths will inherently seem untimely. Tragedy mixed with the propensity for rumors among students of higher education provide the perfect social climate for ghost stories, and nearly every campus has one. Here are a few of the most famous university and college hauntings in Los Angeles County.

• The USC Coliseum Haunting:

Trojan fans give detailed accounts of a ghost standing on top of the sports complex in the fourth quarter of football games. The rumor states that a man fell or jumped from the top floor in the 1960’s and now haunts the stadium. While the legend persists, it is likely based on myth. No one knows the man’s name, no school records show the death of a student in the stadium during the 1960s, and finally, fans attending USC games are likely to be inebriated enough to see and believe anything.

• The Strub Theatre Haunting (Loyola Marymount University):

While the reason for the haunting is based largely on conjecture, students are adamant that the ghost of an old woman sits in the back row of the Strub Theater from time to time, watching the stage. Actors testify to performing and seeing her in the back of the house as well as stage managers as they close the theater. The stories of who the woman is or how she died are contradictory and meritless. Still, she is well known by everyone on campus.

• The Erdman Hall Haunting (Occidental College):

The hauntings get crowded at Occidental, especially on the second floor of Erdman Hall where two different ghosts have been reported by students. One is supposedly kind in nature, playing tricks like turning water faucets and lights on and off, as well writing messages on walls. The other ghost is decidedly less friendly. Students in one particular room in the center of the 2nd floor describe the apparition as a large, dark man who stands in the doorway of the closet watching the occupants sleep. No one claims to have been hurt by the ghost, still a ghost that lives in a closet and watches people sleep isn’t making any friends out of believers.

• The Mount Clef Dorm Haunting (California Lutheran University):

Perhaps the best known haunting of all Southern California schools, Mount Clef dorm is occupied by several ghosts. The legend behind the dorm is that it was built on the site of an old hotel, and as demonstrated in The Shining, hotels are inherently haunted. Today, the hotel is long gone but the dorm picked up all the stray ghosts. Most notably, a child who wanders the upstairs’ hallway. According to the story, he was murdered in the hotel years ago and now plays tricks on the residents. The high jinks range from the standard unlocking and opening doors, to the more bizarre like tracking mud into the beds and throwing pillows across the room in the night. The students describe the haunting as more annoying than horrifying, and may offer some insight as to why the boy was murdered in the first place.

Tips on Japanese Etiquette

By Chai Ta Unfortunately, proper etiquette is not always readily apparent in every situation, especially when you are in a foreign country, and, particularly, if you are a westerner in Japan. What may seem insignificant or even polite to you, can be a great offense to the Japanese people and their culture. Being a foreigner, you will be granted a certain amount of latitude, however, you’ll want to avoid committing any of these infractions when possible, especially in a culture where “the nail that sticks up, gets hammered down.”

• Punctuality

In many western cultures, it is perfectly acceptable to stroll into work a few minutes late and very normal to be “fashionably late” to parties, but in Japan, being late is far from “OK” in any situation. Whether the meeting is business or casual, tardiness is considered a tremendous insult and shows a great lack of respect to whomever you are meeting and a lack of care for the meeting. In a country with the most punctual railway system in the world, being late is never acceptable. A good rule of thumb is to always err on the side of caution and aim to be 10 to 15 minutes early to every single appointment.

• Business Cards

When meeting for the first time in a business setting, the Japanese will always present you with their business cards, or meishi. When receiving a card, it’s important that you “receive” it the right way. Always take the card at the corners with both hands without covering any part of the information with your fingers. Thank the person for the card and give a slight bow. Afterwards, do not bend, write on, or put the card directly into your pocket. You must either place it on the table before you or hold onto it until the meeting is over.

• Shoes in the House

Many Asian cultures adopt the practice of removing shoes before coming into the house, and the Japanese are no exception. The custom is deep-rooted and dates back to the Heian period (794-1192) when the upper class noticed that their dwellings were quickly dirtied by their footwear. The practice spread out to the masses and soon became tradition. When you enter a Japanese home, take your shoes off and place them at the genkan, which is the area just beyond entrance. You’ll be able to either walk freely inside with your bare feet or socks or your host will provide you with house slippers to wear.

• Chopsticks

When you come from a culture that predominantly uses knives, forks and spoons, your lack of expertise with the sticks will be forgiven. What is harder to forgive, however, is how you use the sticks. Avoid waving or pointing your chopsticks at someone. This is considered an aggressive action. Also, do not use your chopsticks to move plates or bowls on the table as this shows a lack of care for the food. And finally, never stick and leave your chopsticks into your food (like in a bowl of rice) and never pass food from your set of chopsticks to another’s as these actions resemble rituals performed at funerals. To be on the safe side, use your chopsticks to only transfer food from your plate to your mouth.

• Drinking

Japan is very much a drinking culture. After a hard day’s work, the Japanese love to enjoy a drink or two or five. When you go drinking with your Japanese friends, let them pour you your drink. Hold your glass with two hands as they are pouring. Then, it is customary that you return the favor and pour a drink for them. Before you take your first sip, wait until everyone at your table has a drink in hand. Then, everyone will toast with the traditional “kampai” before taking their first drink.