“Students advised to carry flashlights, avoid rusty hospital corridors, and ignore distant air-raid sirens.”
Students arriving at the University of Wisconsin–Stout the morning of Wednesday, March 4th, were surprised to discover that the campus had apparently been transported into the fog-covered nightmare town of Silent Hill. The transformation appeared overnight as an unusually thick blanket of fog rolled across Menomonie, reducing visibility across campus to roughly, “two dorm lengths,” and turning the normally cheerful walkways of UW–Stout into what many students described as a “PlayStation 2 survival horror map.”
“I walked out of my dorm and couldn’t see the other side of the parking lot,” said Junior Video Production major Micah Eyerly. “At first, I thought it was just Wisconsin weather, but then I heard a metal scraping sound and saw something move near the dumpsters. I just went back inside.”
University officials have not confirmed the supernatural relocation but did release a brief statement acknowledging “elevated atmospheric fog conditions,” and reminding students that midterms stress can sometimes cause them to imagine pyramid-shaped monsters. Despite the town’s apparent shift into a cursed alternate dimension, UW–Stout administration confirmed that classes will continue as scheduled.
“Fog or existential horror is not an excused absence,” said a university spokesperson. “Students are expected to attend lectures unless the fog begins producing hostile manifestations of their guilt and trauma.”
Several professors also reported minor disruptions during morning classes. “One student asked if they could leave early because a siren started going off outside,” said theater professor Audric Buhr. “I told them unless the walls start peeling and the floor turns into rusted grating, the presentation is still due.”
UW–Stout Campus Police released a list of recommendations for navigating the fog:
- Travel in groups when possible.
- Avoid abandoned elementary schools and hospitals.
- If you encounter a large pyramid-headed figure dragging a blade, do not attempt to photograph it for TikTok.
- If the environment suddenly becomes covered in rust and barbed wire, remain calm and wait for the cycle to reset.
They also clarified that fog itself is not considered a campus emergency, though “manifestations of unresolved psychological trauma” may require additional reporting procedures.
Despite the eerie atmosphere, many students have embraced these circumstances. Some photography majors were seen taking moody black-and-white photos around the clocktower, while several game design students reportedly began “taking notes in case this becomes our next indie horror project.”
“I mean, it’s kind of perfect,” said one student walking through the mist. “We already have the creepy fog, the empty sidewalks, and the constant feeling of dread. All we need now is a broken radio that starts crackling when monsters are nearby.” Local meteorologists insist the phenomenon is simply the result of moist air, cloud cover, and incoming rain systems interacting with the cooler ground typical of early March in Wisconsin. Students, however, remain unconvinced.
“Sure, that’s what they want us to think,” said another student while staring suspiciously into the fog near the library. “But if a siren goes off and the sky turns red, I’m dropping out immediately.” For now, UW–Stout remains open; classes are ongoing, and the fog continues to roll across campus. Officials say the situation should return to normal once the weather system moves out. Until then, students are encouraged to stay calm, finish their assignments, and avoid entering any suspiciously glowing doors that appear in the mist.
