The recurring appearance of a mysterious character has baffled many teachers around West Brunswick High School. A common occurrence of the alleged “John Smith” has been seen written in places all around the school: in teachers’ computer logbooks, on bathroom walls, and even on students’ papers. What is strange about the case is when students are asked about John Smith, no one can recall his appearance or even any discussion with Smith. The mysterious events have left everyone asking: Who is John Smith? Why is his name being found around the school?

Students believe the local legend is possibly a student from years before, leaving a haunting impact on West Brunswick. The only accounts recorded of hearing Smith have been small whispers and knocking in the bathrooms around school grounds. Some students recall themselves writing in their notebooks and accidentally illustrating Smith’s name in a foreign penmanship. Attendants of West have become fearful for their vulnerability around campus with the little information known about Smith’s location and intentions.

What do you believe John Smith is?

• Ghost
• Student
• Government

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Along with students, teachers at West have sought out and begged for information about the student to administrators, but nothing has come up on Smith’s character. Junior Ethan Reed wants to draw more light to the Smith debate after his bizarre encounter with the local legend.

“I’ve never met this John guy, but I’ve heard great things about him,” said Reed. “John’s name is written all over school, so he must be a pretty popular guy. I want to meet John face to face after all this time, and if he is something supernatural, his legend is just that much bigger.”

Other students around campus had things to say about Smith; local student and hog farmer, Jonathan Mintz, believes he has come up with the solution to this conspiracy.

“I believe an elaborate hoax has been pulled over on the student population,” said Mintz. “A complex set of speakers may have been used to create the voices emitting from out of darkness. The mysterious writing the students experienced could have been a mass hysteria in that the students subconsciously write his name.”

Administrators and teachers alike seem to favor Mintz’s theory, yet holes in the case are still extremely prevalent. If what the students experienced was mass hysteria, who has been writing Smith’s name on the bathroom walls and in computer check out logs? Many questions are still being asked about the mysterious character, but for now, it’s just another high-school mystery.