The rain fell in icy sheets, soaking Sarah as she made her way back to her dorm after a long day of classes. Teeth chattering, she glanced up at Shaffer Tower standing proudly in front of her—a vast and glorious respite.
Splashing her way across the rain-slicked bricks and cursing her luck for forgetting her umbrella, Sarah trudged through the storm. As she slogged along, all she could think about was getting back to her dorm and nestling into her bed with warm, dry clothes.
Her teeth chattered as she scrambled under for cover, more grateful than ever for the presence of the looming bell tower. Settling on the dry brick, Sarah drew her jacket closer and decided to wait out the raging storm in the dry haven beneath Shaffer Tower.
The rain poured for what felt like a millennium as she scrolled on her phone. Around her, students hurtled through the downpour, clutching umbrellas and rushing to escape the downpour.
As the rain slowed into a light drizzle, Sarah stood and pulled on her backpack, thankful for the protection from the rain. With damp clothes and a chill in her bones, Sarah eagerly made her way back to her dorm, anticipating the warmth awaiting her.
Hurrying on her way, Sarah thought nothing her choice to shelter under the iconic tower. As she enjoyed the warmth that soaked into her bones and the weeks flew by, she forgot all about her time under the tower. The moment faded from her memory—while something sinister bided its time.
Unbeknownst to Sarah, her seemingly harmless huddle under the tower had consequences she never could have imagined.
The years passed, and Sarah had finally made it to her final week at Ball State. She felt unstoppable, unaware of the curse that had hovered over her—eagerly waiting for the perfect moment to strike and strike it did.
All of Sarah’s final exams were a disaster. Random room changes that everyone, but Sarah, received an email about. A presentation being deleted from the class Canvas. No matter how hard she studied or how perfect her projects were, something went wrong inexplicably.
Unfortunately for Sarah, the curse got its way.
She failed her last lab—the last credit she needed to graduate, delaying her graduation by one semester.
Let Sarah’s experience be a cautionary tale:
Avoid walking under the Shafer Tower—lest you, too, are cursed to late graduation!
