The groans of students who accidentally step on the Zodiac in the north entry of the Memorial Union are not the only sounds heard in the Gold Star Hall.

Gold Star Hall, a memorial to ISU students who died serving in various wars, has been the site of strange sounds for years, said Kathy Svec, marketing coordinator for the Memorial Union.

Svec said the MU staff occupies the building 24 hours a day, and the overnight shift in particular has reported “things that just can’t be explained exactly,” such as strange sounds and closing doors.

Svec said Dan Rice, academic adviser for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, approached her office regarding a ghost story when he was a student at Iowa State from 1984 to 1988.

Rice said as an undergraduate he heard stories about “The Ghost of Gold Star Hall.”

Svec said she and Rice then decided to do some “digging around.” Rice said this included talking to MU employees and the past director of the Union.

“He and I kind of unearthed the question as to who is doing the haunting in Gold Star Hall,” she said.

Svec said the two were suspicious of one particular name that is inscribed on the wall of the Gold Star Hall – Hortense Elizabeth Wind.

“We think that it might be her,” Svec said.

One reason Hortense is accused of making the noises and pranks is her name.

“First of all, of course, with a last name like that it looks mighty suspicious,” Svec said.

Another reason for the suspicions is that Hortense is the only woman to be listed as a casualty of World War I, Svec said.

Hortense graduated from Iowa State College in 1916 in home economics, Svec said. Following graduation, she enlisted in the nursing corps in France. Because she was “very close to the action,” Svec said her involvement in the war resulted in her death.

Rice said the Gold Star Hall formerly housed a revolving door that created a wind-sucking noise. Rumor has it that Hortense makes this noise to inform students to stay in school to avoid being drafted.

“I’m sure that anytime you hear a wind in the Gold Star Hall, it’s probably Hortense,” Rice said.

Svec said Hortense is a friendly ghost, but is probably just fed up being the only woman among a bunch of men listed on the wall.

“We think she’s pretty friendly, but we think she’s after a little girl talk,” Svec said.