Echoes of screams and amusement roamed the hallways of the Fine Arts Building last week, as students transformed the building into a haunted walkthrough. The Hall of Horrors brought the dead to life with zombies, poltergeists and the occasional axe murderer.
This event was organized to challenge UNK students’ bravery, while also tapping into the Halloween spirit. The event was student-run and featured both artistry and fear.
“Events like this bring students together because they give people something to look forward to and enjoy with friends,” said Gracie Boe, a student Hall of Horrors organizer. “They also help build a sense of community, both among the volunteers who set everything up and the people who came to experience it. During and after the event, our volunteers and actors encouraged each other and were extremely proud of how far the Hall of Horrors had come.”
Participants were led down the hallway with dark lighting, frightening props and eerie background music. Each of the several rooms consisted of different ideas to scare attendees – from a room of static TVs to another filled with axe-wielding maniacs – all were thoughtfully designed to create the optimal Halloween adventure.
The idea to create the Hall of Horrors came to organizers just a few months ago.
“It was just a suggestion at the beginning of the year, something that felt so far-fetched,” said Jay Castaneda, a student Hall of Horrors organizer. “In previous years, we’ve decorated the hallway. So how hard could this be? Spoiler alert, it was.”
Taking nearly two months to plan, it took dedication to decide on ideas for the haunted attraction, as well as props and who would participate.
“The biggest challenge was planning because the scope of work was overwhelming,” Castaneda said. “We had to just get it started. Then everything fell into place.”
Being part of the campus community, UNK students and staff members came to support.
“Although the Hall of Horrors took a lot of effort to plan and create, I think it was absolutely worth it,” Boe said. “In the future, I’d love to see it grow and evolve across campus. I can imagine the event expanding beyond the Art Department — maybe even into other buildings or inspiring other clubs to create their own haunted houses.”
The Art Department also hosted a pumpkin carving contest and decorated the Fine Arts Building throughout October to celebrate Halloween.
Photos by Jenju Peters / Antelope Staff
