Walking through the woods on campus, particularly if you went off the trail, was not like walking other wooded areas. In the 1970s, it would not be unusual to encounter works of art that anticipated the ritualistic icons as shown in "The Blair Witch Project." But back then they didn't have the witch or demonic connections they do today. It was just cool art, man.

There were also lots of ceramic figures, grotesque and whimsical, but you had to work to find them in this jungle gallery.

Once in awhile I'd stumble across a dwelling, but never once did I meet a resident. A few of these makeshift homes were pretty impressive and it was obvious from their design that the intent was for long term occupancy. During this decade students would vanish at the rate of one or two a year and the woods would be combed by Security and local law enforcement. Whenever this search took place, I understand they flushed out a few squatters with each sweep.

One resident of the woods I stopped hearing about during my last couple years as a student was the bear who roamed the TESC forest. It probably left for other quarters after dealing with too many squatters, too many search parties, and too many ceramic gargoyles.