Halloween is a time of candy, costumes, parties - and the paranormal.

Loyd Auerbach, director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations, spoke about his experiences with ghosts and the paranormal phenomena Wednesday night at Forum Hall in the K-State Student Union.

Auerbach told stories about ghosts having sex, a little boy befriending a ghost named Lois, male ghosts peeping in on girls while taking a shower and Navy sailors never leaving their beloved ship, even after death.

"Ghosts do not look damaged - they look like regular people, usually from the knee up, and they look the way they want to look," Auerback said. "How people think of themselves is how they will look as a ghost."

Auerbach spoke of a case he handled involving a boy named Chris, and his parents. However, the ghost in this case - Lois - only would speak to Chris.

Lois lived in the house before Chris and his family. Lois would walk to the staircase and wave at the family in the living room. Family members would not wave back because they did not see her - only Chris could see her, Auerbach said.

For weeks, Auerbach said Chris would speak of the old lady, and tell his parents about the history of the house and town. When Auerbach went to Chris' house, it became clear that Lois was present.

He said when he asked Lois questions, Chris would translate. The only question Lois had for Auerbach was why Chris' parents did not wave back. Throughout the time Chris saw Lois, his grades improved because, Chris said, Lois helped him with his homework. Chris still speaks with her today.

"Chris lives in the same house, is married and has children. They claim Lois as a second grandmother, and the whole family can see her," Auerbach said.

During his presentation, which the Union Program Council sponsored, Auerbach gave advice on how to get rid of ghosts. He said the best way is to annoy them out of the place they are haunting.

The night ended with Auerbach's personal experience with a friend's death. His friend came back and filled Auerbach's new car with the smell of cigar smoke.

"He said he was going to haunt me, and I said 'Bring it on,'" Auerbach said. "I expected it one or two days before he came back. It took him a week and a half because he had so many people to say goodbye to."

Auerbach said on both the East and West coasts of the United States at about 10 a.m., people who knew his friend would smell cigar smoke where ever they were.

Danny Smyl, freshman in geology, said he found the presentation enlightening, but he wishes there was more proof about ghosts' existence.

"What he said was interesting, but I don't think it has any scientific backing," Smyl said. "They use electromagnetics to explain paranormal events, and I think it is asinine to use scientific method when he does not even have a degree in that field." Alex Beim, senior in management, had a different view. He said hearing about Auerbach's experiences made the subject of paranormal phenomena even more exciting to learn about.

"(Paranormal phenomena) is impossible to grasp, but it does happen," Beim said.

Auerbach said he has been interested in ghost stories since he was a child and loves the field because it allows people to do more than they think.

"Ghosts do not haunt where they died," Auerbach said. "They go back to a place they like - they go home, a place they love. If you encounter a ghost, ask, 'What can I do for you?'"