A shot of ASI’s Halloween Haunt from fall semester 2019. Photo by Nova-Blanco Rico.
By Anthony Vasquez, Staff Reporter
The show must go on! This year’s ASI Halloween Haunt will relocate, leaving the activities field, and make its way onto your screens!
Halloween Haunt, the biggest festival brought in hundreds of Toros containing Halloween-themed group activities such as scare mazes, escape rooms, and in partnership with student organizations and clubs created a trick-or-treat space.
So what’s going to change?
“This upcoming year being in a virtual state, what we decided to do was just break it down to which components were receiving the most feedback and which ones students enjoyed the most,” ASI’s Program Coordinator, Stephen Janes said.
The components which Janes referred to are the escape room which will now be virtual and include time slots that students can sign up for with their friends.
“We also recently found another company that can do a virtual murder mystery, this one’s kind of fun because it can be done in smaller breakout rooms on Zoom…it’s something we at ASI did somewhat recently,” Janes said.“Someone basically downloads an app on their phone the app has an additional set of clues along with a document you can share on-screen and that was really fun.”
At a recent commuter outreach, Janes asked students what they’d like to see in this year’s haunt and they expressed wanting a virtual costume contest. Janes is still unsure how to move forward with the contest since he wants students to be as safe as possible and prevent any form of online harassment from happening.
Along with these additions, the event could be extended to last more than one day with the addition of a Halloween-themed music night via KDHR Radio’s Twitch, home to previous events such as this past month’s virtual concert. The contests will be paired with the possibility of winning gift cards as well.
“We’re definitely looking at incorporating a Halloween-themed music night where we’ll encourage people to join a Zoom room or either record themselves dancing or hanging out to the music,” Janes said.
Other changes for this year’s haunt will be the inability to partner with student organizations because of the lack of in-person connections as well as no pumpkin painting or laser tag. The event would also offer opportunities last year as many could volunteer/audition to be scare actors or booth helpers for the activities that would take place.
The switch to a virtual platform with time slots opens up the accessibility for students who previously couldn’t attend.
So when will the events take place?
“Dates are not confirmed yet, but we’re looking to host all events from October 27-29,” Janes said.
For more spooktacular information and updates on the event follow ASI on its social media platforms.
Instagram: @asicsudh
Twitter: @asicsudh
