Welcome back to school Gorillas! And for the freshmen or transfer students, welcome to Pitt State. If you are new here, I am Kaylee, and this is Kaylee’s Conspiracy Corner. This is the place where we dive into everything that twists your brain, makes your eyes itch, and leaves your mind blown.
Normally, I focus on the bigger mysteries, like the parallels between the Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy assassinations, or whether the moon landing was one giant leap, or one giant hoax. But because I am also a busy student balancing her own schedule, I thought we would keep this week’s article light and on theme. Let us explore the conspiracies right here in the Pittsburg area and on Pitt State’s campus.
One of the most famous student superstitions centers on the split-face gorilla statue in the Oval. When in the Oval, you can see students purposefully walking around the split-face gorilla in the center of the oval. The theory is, if you happen to step on the gorilla, you have 30 seconds to sprint north and touch the yoga gorilla outside of the Overman Student Center. Fail, and you will not graduate on time. Some dismiss it as just a superstition or quirky tradition. Others say PSU intentionally spread it as a way to boost student loyalty. Either way, it is probably best you watch your step.
Let us head underground. Did you know Axe Library has a basement? It is used for archives and storage of anything and everything imaginable. To access some of the climate-controlled areas in the basement, you must be under close supervision. On paper, it makes sense in order to protect old documents. But some believe the basement is deeper than the school admits, containing hidden information or even old fallout shelters from the Cold War era. Why else would they guard it so closely? And what is with all the “Staff Only” areas?
And then there is Big Brutus, the largest-surviving electric mining shovel sitting in West Mineral. This is a relic of the region’s coal mining days. But Big Brutus is not just a landmark. It is tied to one of Southeast Kansas’ strangest secretive encounters.
In the summer of 1995, a couple searching for a fishing spot near an abandoned strip pit heard a “screeching scream.” The sound came in short bursts, pausing just long enough for this creature to take another breath, before unleashing another scream. Terrified, the couple crouched down, covering their ears and closing their eyes. When the couple heard what sounded like the creature retreating, they stood up and opened their eyes, just in time to watch the creature jump the creek about 10 feet in front of them, and take off crashing through the trees, screaming as it disappeared.
They believe they survived an encounter with Sasquatch, and they were not the only ones. Other sightings have been reported from around the area, leaving many to believe Bigfoot is alive and well, lurking in the shadow of Big Brutus and hiding among the reclaimed mining lands.
Whether it is cursed gorillas, hidden basements, or Bigfoot himself, the Pittsburg area and Pitt State are full of mysteries waiting to be explored and discovered. Are these just tales, campus traditions, and overactive imaginations, or is there more truth hidden beneath the surface? The real question is, are you brave enough to go searching for the truth?
Editor’s note: Kaylee is unhinged, and we will not apologize for her.