Supernatural Class Offers Witches, Ouijas

Harvard doesn't offer a class in contacting spirits or casting spells, but Folklore and Mythology 109 may be the next best thing.

Eager to learn about satanic cults and supernatural phenomena, 60 students shopped "Perceptions of the Supernatural: Witches, Werewolves and Ouija Boards" yesterday.

"Some say my shower is haunted, and it's true lights go on and off periodically," said Elizabeth K. Baumgardner, a first-year student at he Divinity School. "That might have subconsciously influenced me to take the class."

Professor Stephen A. Mitchell, chair of he Folklore and Mythology Department, teaches the class, which is limited to 12 students.

Mitchell objects to the common perception that studying the supernatural is frivolous or hopelessly esoteric. "People make judgments and decisions all the time based on influences of these sorts," he said.

Belief in the supernatural is not limited to a "lunatic fringe," Mitchell said, citing Nancy Reagan's alleged use of an astrologer to make political decisions as an example.

"What if [the astrologer] was having a bad day?" Mitchell quipped.

The purpose of the class is to all-low students to research a contemporary supernatural phenomenon in depth.

According to the syllabus, possible research topics include "incidents and rumor panics involving 'satanic' cults, 'alien' abductions, ghosts, licanthropy, 'witchery', Ouija boards and other aspects of contemporary legends."

One distinctive feature of these projects is that research in not limited to the library. Students must cull most of their information from field work and observation.

"A sample project would have a student work with a neo-pagan group and explore their sense of reli- giosity," Mitchell said.

"Another could involve a student observing anindividual who claims to have been adbucted by analien and seeing how their report fits knownpatterns," he added.

Mitchell described how Mc-Carthyism of the1950s strongly re-sembled "witch crazes" ofearlier centuries.

Mitchell discussed new psychological techniquesthat claim to uncover patients' repressed memoriesof abuse. Reputable psychologists use stories ofchildhood abuse to prove that satanic cults exist,he said.

Patients' stories have led "clinics to buy theidea that America is threatened by widespread,ritual abuse of children," Mitchell said.

The professor said he believes that studyingsupernatural beliefs can yield insight into thesociological, psychological and historical rootsof such unusual occurrences.

Students who shopped the class yesterday wereinitially encouraged by the course's lack of amidterm and final exam.

The number of people who stayed dwindled from60 to about 25, however, when students realizedthat the class required a 30- page research paper.

Those who remained were required to fill out anapplication which included a project proposal.

Applicants had a wide variety of reasons forwanting to take the class, ranging from thesensible to the mysterious.

Douglas M. DeMay '94 said that his home town inupstate New York has a large satanic cult. Hisinterest in the course stemmed from a "curiosityabout the sensationalism that surrounds thesethings, and how people are influenced by it."

One applicant even described close personalties to the supernatural.

"I've always been into this stuff," saidBrindisi M. Chan '97. "I used to read theEncyclopedia of Ghosts, and I have a couplevolumes of home witchcraft."

Chan shies away from Ouija boards, however. "Ithink they're dangerous," she said. "You let aspirit come into contact with you, and it couldget inside and mess you up." Chan, who is Chinese,added, "My culture is filled with ghost stories.

"Another could involve a student observing anindividual who claims to have been adbucted by analien and seeing how their report fits knownpatterns," he added.

Mitchell described how Mc-Carthyism of the1950s strongly re-sembled "witch crazes" ofearlier centuries.

Mitchell discussed new psychological techniquesthat claim to uncover patients' repressed memoriesof abuse. Reputable psychologists use stories ofchildhood abuse to prove that satanic cults exist,he said.

Patients' stories have led "clinics to buy theidea that America is threatened by widespread,ritual abuse of children," Mitchell said.

The professor said he believes that studyingsupernatural beliefs can yield insight into thesociological, psychological and historical rootsof such unusual occurrences.

Students who shopped the class yesterday wereinitially encouraged by the course's lack of amidterm and final exam.

The number of people who stayed dwindled from60 to about 25, however, when students realizedthat the class required a 30- page research paper.

Those who remained were required to fill out anapplication which included a project proposal.

Applicants had a wide variety of reasons forwanting to take the class, ranging from thesensible to the mysterious.

Douglas M. DeMay '94 said that his home town inupstate New York has a large satanic cult. Hisinterest in the course stemmed from a "curiosityabout the sensationalism that surrounds thesethings, and how people are influenced by it."

One applicant even described close personalties to the supernatural.

"I've always been into this stuff," saidBrindisi M. Chan '97. "I used to read theEncyclopedia of Ghosts, and I have a couplevolumes of home witchcraft."

Chan shies away from Ouija boards, however. "Ithink they're dangerous," she said. "You let aspirit come into contact with you, and it couldget inside and mess you up." Chan, who is Chinese,added, "My culture is filled with ghost stories.