Deep in the ravines so familiar to Grand Valley State University students lies a tree with a mysterious message that contradicts with its serene surroundings.

Carved in the fallen tree’s bark is the remnants of a message that reads, “Upon my death I bridge the connection between the old world and the new.”

A lesser known myth on campus, the tree was discovered by a running group who came across the tree on while on a run. It lies deep within the ravines along a stream that connects to the Grand River behind Calder. The text is carved across the side in the bark, with the odd part about this discovery being the consistency and sharpness throughout the message.

“It’s almost like the person burned the writing into the bark but there are no burn marks,” said Jacob Schacht, part of the discovery team. “The typography is much like some type you would find in (Microsoft) Word.”

Throughout the years since its unknown creation, the bark has chipped away and the message has worn, much like the story of this tree. Many faculty members and students involved with facilities and grounds are unaware of the tree’s creation, adding mystery to the origin.

“I was on a run back there two years ago with a group when we came across the tree,” Schacht said. “At the time, more of the message remained. Only one person in the group had ever heard about the tree. The story was that someone, years ago, had committed suicide around this tree and the university named the Connection building in this person’s honor.”

Though this story seems plausible enough, there seems to be no record of a suicide in the ravines in GVSU’s history. The only episode comparable was a suicide in the Ravine Apartments in 1975. Additionally, there is an alternative reasoning behind the naming of the Connection.

“There is no connection between the naming of the building and the tree,” said Tim Thimmersch, head of GVSU facilities. “The name was selected from several suggestions that went forward. It represents the value and importance of connection with GVSU and others.”

Though the Halloween spirit of things seems to be lurking around corners this time of year, this wonder seems to be another example of upperclassmen pulling the wool over underclassmen’s eyes. However, be warned, the true mystery behind this fallen tree remains a secret between GVSU and the ravines.