There is a seal in front of CMU's Warriner Hall--a 7' tall college emblem, like every college has, stood up on a concrete base and fronting both the administrative offices and the American Flag.  Only, unlike most college seals, this one has a peculiar story attached to it, and a haunting tale of true love . . .

Midnight Rendezvous

The story, as it is told around campus, goes as such: there were, at some time in the past (the 1950's, some claim), two young lovers on the CMU campus--a man of some fine bearing and social standing, and a woman of a lower class and birth (occasionally, the storyteller will reverse roles, with the woman being the high-class one).  Despite their social differences, the two were in love, and when the young man's family protested, the decided to elope.  Their plan was simple: the woman was to meet the man at midnight in front of the seal, when her love came around he would whisk her off, and they would be married.  The girl, eager to meet her young beau, arrived at the seal early, and, despite the fact that the night was bitterly cold, she resolved to stand there until he came.

Midnight came and went, and then another hour, and the young man still had not arrived.  And the weather became colder, and colder.  Finally, about 4am, the young man--who'd been delayed by car problems--finally arrived; he was crushed to find that his love was, indeed, still waiting for him . . . only, in the bitter cold, she'd frozen to death, and lay in a heap on the ground before the seal.  Crying, the young man knelt before the girl's body, scooping her into his arms, and, with a kiss, died holding her.  He died of a broken heart.

Many Happy Returns

Despite the sad ending to their life, it is said the ending of their story is a happy one, for in the spirit world, the two lovers found each other, and were united, together forever.  And, according to the legend--and at the very heart of the story--it is said that, should you ever kiss your lover at the stroke of midnight, under a full moon, while standing in front of the seal, the couple will return to the spot to bless your love, and you and your mate will be together forever, destined to marry.