Behind the Scenes of CAB's Haunted University.
Written By: Riplee Breeden
The Reynolds Room got turned into the Backrooms for Haunted University this last Saturday, October 24th, led by Campus Activities Board(CAB) with the help of Latino Student Association(LSA), Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), and Theater Department.
Harmonie Yang, an Event Coordinator of CAB, was head of planning for Haunted University this year. This wasn't something that was created in a month, it started this Summer from CAB’s Leadership Teams (LT) first meeting. The moment she was given the event to plan she hit the ground running and got the map ready for the Haunted House in the Reynolds Room and how to make it feel like the Backrooms.
A maze of doors and curtains quickly came to be Thursday, October 22nd. Many CAB members mentioned getting lost and turned around in a place that is so familiar with just a few black curtains. You could tell the Reynolds Room was getting into the spooky spirits during set up. The curtains that were just set up a few hours ago began to fall as members were decorating the walls with fake bloody handprints. Luckily no one was hurt as many quickly sprung into action to hold up poles that were falling showing true teamwork amongst CAB. Ella Kuykendall, another Event Coordinator for CAB recalled the incident saying “I was in the back hallway seeing how many chairs were back there when all of sudden there was yelling coming from the room and after peeking through the doors I had seen everyone holding the poles from falling.” She went on to mention almost becoming victim to one of the poles. “I was standing there seeing both corners were being held down by Riplee and another CAB member and as I looked forward the middle pole in front of me started leaning forward, I guess it felt left out being one of the few to have yet to fall.” Harmonie added in “Everything felt like it was in slow motion.” She was in another room directing members on where to place things when she heard the initial yells and ran to the connecting doorway to see what had happened.
That's not the only spooky thing to happen during set up. Ballman-Spear, the creepiest building on campus in many students' opinion, holds the many decorations used for the Haunted House. As members filed in to grab supplies Dadrick Franklin one of the many members of CAB started to recall the time he and a buddy went in to grab some supplies in the past semester. “We were alone the only people in the building” or so they thought “as we passed a closed door we saw a figure in the window.” The door being mentioned had a fogged out window so any figure behind it would look a bit distorted and not so clear. His buddy kept saying they should open the door and see who or what it is, Dadrick was 100% against this idea. Knowing that if that was an actual person they would have made themselves known earlier. “My buddy opened the door and no one was there, just two old empty offices.” Here's where it gets creepy, as they closed the door back assuming it was just a shadow made by boxes and what not that are stored inside, when it was shut the shadow that was there previously was gone.
Tis’ the season I guess.
Everything afterwards with set up went smoothly. The day of Haunted University quickly came to be. LT and Dyllan Newell CAB’s Advisor getting there early getting set up schedules prepped and last minute fixes being made. CAB members and RSO’s arriving ready to get started welcoming the community with carnival games, a trunk or treat, and scarring within the Haunted House. Little did we know the spooks were to continue.
I Riplee Breeden, the last of the three Event Coordinators for CAB, was working at Kids corner. While watching the community, making sure everyone was having a good, safe time, I overheard on the walkie talkies Harmonie who was working in the Haunted House say “Dyllan we need you in the Haunted House now!” Ella, who was working outside at carnival games, and I had no clue what was going on. I personally was preparing to hear sirens worrying someone had seriously gotten injured, but nothing and the line seemed to still be moving forward from where I was standing. Everyone was safe!
As the Haunted House workers took their break later in the night Harmonie found me and Ella and immediately we asked what had happened with the urgent call. Harmonie went on to explain what went down “The door in the Christmas tree room was getting closed constantly” just a slight push to scare the people in the room. This particular shut sounded louder than it had with the past groups. “All of a sudden one of the actors had poked their head out saying they couldn't get the slammed door opened, so of course I ran in to see what was going on and as I was standing pushing the door trying to get it to open I looked up and a corner of the door was staring back at me.” Me and Ella were quick to want to see the door. Running to the haunted house, Harmonie was right that corner was out and proud, that door was jammed! It seemed the Reynolds Room was done with its doors being slammed shut and was quick to put an end to it. CAB continues to be resilient and problem solvers because Harmonie ran with the cards dealt her way and re-routed the Haunted House. Good thing the theme was Backrooms, because we all know nothing ever stays the same in the Backrooms. Maybe that's what the Reynolds Room was trying to do all along, just staying on theme.
Overall the event went well, with 2,000+ people showing up and having a grand time. This just goes to show that no matter what event, or how many times it's been done with little things being patched up through out the years. There will always be hiccups along the way, but as long as you've got a good group around you to help and support you, your event will be great!
Happy Halloween!!
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