Myths, Mysteries, and the Macabre on American Campuses

Myths, Mysteries, and the Macabre on American Campuses
The college campus is a place of tradition, which is fertile ground for the seeds of myth. Dorm-whispered stories and campus legends, in part meant to entertain, are told over and over to new members of the community as a form of acculturation. The stories can help those new to the campus form a sense of belonging, but also can have a deeper, sometimes hidden purpose. These campus stories can also be retold to help reinforce behaviors and, in some cases, various forms of oppression from the periods they originate. These tales have become embedded in campus cultures and organizational sagas for a reason.
In advance of the release of the book (published by the University of New Orleans) - Myths, Mysteries, and the Macabre on American Campuses by Chris Broadhurst and Gordan Maples - hear about some of the myths and tales we have collected from authors at colleges across the country, and learn how they connect to the roots of higher education in our country.

**Doors open at 2:30pm for refreshments. Program begins at 3pm.**

OUR SPEAKERS:

Christopher Broadhurst is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, focusing on higher education, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. After receiving his Ph.D. in Educational Research and Policy Analysis, with a concentration in higher education, from North Carolina State University in 2012, he joined the University of New Orleans in August of 2013 following a one-year visiting position at the University of Southern Mississippi. In 2025, Christopher began teaching at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. His teaching focuses on organizational cultures, climates, and change in higher education. His research agenda utilizes historical, quantitative, and qualitative methods to examine the organizational change in higher education. His research has appeared in the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, and the Journal of College and Character.

Dr. Gordon Maples is a scholar of higher education and a student affairs professional. His published works about higher education have focused on religious diversity, education policy, crisis communications, student mental health, popular culture, and a number of other topics. He currently works in student affairs and teaches at Nunez Community College on the edge of New Orleans. He previously worked in the atheist movement for the Secular Student Alliance as Senior Campus Organizer. In addition to his scholarly work, he currently serves on the executive committee of the Gulf South Mycological Society, as a mentor for Son of a Saint, and is a proud member of the Krewe of Krampus. His dog has an Instagram account and he wrote for StarTrek.com one time.