Late Night Stars get into the Halloween spirit with latest event
October 21, 2009
By Brittney Meyer
Student Life Reporter
Student Cassie Oswald stood in the Student Life Building (SLB) gym apprehensive about entering the alien themed haunted house, set up on Friday.
“I'm too scared! It seems ‘AHHH’ – scary,” said Oswald.
The haunted house was a part of the second event, Late Nite Fright Nite, that the Late Night Stars hosted throughout the entire student life building. The Late Night Stars is a series of three events each semester that runs from 10pm-2am. Each event is a combined effort among several on campus departments.
Photo by Melissa Conrad Breanna Johnson (right), and campus visitor Mallard Jones (left) carve pumpkins at Friday’s Late Night Fright Night. |
The series’ focus is to keep students on campus over the weekend, provide a positive atmosphere for students late at night on weekends and to prevent substance abuse by providing fun activities.
More activities that packed the SLB gym last Friday included pumpkin carving/painting, make-your-own trail mix and caramel apples, Rocky Horror Picture showing, hay rack ride around campus and a psychic reading. Students participated in a costume contest, carved and painted pumpkins and competed in a pool tournament. Winners were able to choose from gift cards or movies. The grand prize of the night was a NetBook PC.
“I carved my first pumpkin tonight,” stated sophomore Becky Selway, “I even scooped the pumpkin guts out, mostly, all by myself. But I did cut the top too small.” Selway came out to the event with friends Zach Dolbeare and Melanie Pifko, who also carved pumpkins.
The make-your-own caramel apple stand was a big hit and even had some eaters of the staple fall treat, including Shanna Kreps.
“I loved the variety of trail mix ingredients,” stated Prema Babu, “they really thought of everything from marshmallows, to seeds, to even chocolate. I was able to get everything I liked in my bag.”
The Rocky Horror Picture showing in the Diversity Center was held at Midnight and allowed for an interactive experience for the audience. When something in the movie happened, for example when rice is being thrown in the movies, the audience members threw rice.
Psychic Angelina Williams was available for tarot or palm readings all night. Her 15-minute slots filled up quickly with students eager to know their future.
Ashley Fuhri had a reading with Williams and said, “She was amazing. She was right on about my personality.”
Photo by Melissa Conrad A make your own caramel apple stand attracted students to the Late Night event. Here, one carefully decorated apple sits on a table, waiting to dry. |
The pool tournament started early, one participant, Zach Berillo said he was going to try his hardest but he didn’t think he would win. At the end of the night, Berillo was dubbed the champion along with a prize and bragging rights.
The other main attraction of the night was the haunted house set up in the gym. This was complete with clowns, zombies, monsters, strobe lights and fake chainsaws. Two workers of the house Liza Cattani and Jenna Viehweg loved scaring their friends.
“I got to be a monster and scare my friends and I also watched someone fall,” exclaimed Cattani about her experience working.
Not many students got dressed up for the costume contest, but after the judging, Justin Bournes and Cody Huffines won. The two were dressed up as the famous duo J.D. and Turk (Zach Braff and Donald Faison), from the hit TV show "Scrubs."
Event organizer Mary Umbarger greeted guests dressed as "partly cloudy with a chance of rain," complete with a blue outfit, covered in cotton balls and a water pistol.
“[The event] was a success,” Mary Umbarger exclaimed at 2 a.m. while cleaning up. Umbarger went to weekly meetings, help plan and decorate for this event. Approximately 300 students showed up and “had a slammin’ good time,” according to Oswald.
Students interested in joining SOC can contact Beth Hoag at bhoag2@uis.edu or show up to a SOC meeting every Friday at 1 p.m. in the SOC office.
