The Online Reflector

Leading up to Halloween, the University of Indianapolis held activities to get students in festive spirits.
One of the events was the Residence Hall Spirit Night and Spook the Competition, which took place during the men’s and women’s soccer games Oct. 30. East Hall Residence Director Christian Lauletta was part of the committee to make Spook the Competition happen as a means of encouraging students to go to the game and have some fun the night before Halloween.

To celebrate Halloween, a student participates in a pumpkin carving contest on Oct. 30. Photo by Caleb Hathaway

“It’s going to involve encouraging residents to come, first and foremost, and we’re encouraging residents to come in their Halloween costumes,” Lauletta said. “ We’re providing them with a bag of candy, and in those bags of candy there’s going to be a raffle … Then at intermission, we’re going to be playing our own version of hot potato, but using a skull instead.”
Lauletta described the Spook the Competition event as being not too far from a high school pep rally.
“During the intermission time between the women’s and men’s game, we’re going to do kind of a spirit competition. So the halls, and commuters as well, are going to scream, make as much noise as possible, and whichever hall makes the most noise is going to win an ice cream party for their hall,” Lauletta said.
He also joked that the decision about who made the most noise would be subjective.
At the same time that night, the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall was the location for the “Echoing Scare” concert, which was designed for children of all ages and their parents.
“Echoing Scare” featured Faculty Music Adjunct Steven Rickards, choirs of his voice classes from UIndy, Butler and Marian Universities and the period-instrument ensemble Echoing Air. Together, they performed 17th and 18th century music in addition to popular Halloween songs.
Patrons were encouraged to come in costume, and during intermission, a costume contest was held for best duo, best adult costume and best child costume.
According to Rickards, the concert was not only for fun, but also served a philanthropic purpose.
“It’s a benefit for the children of Riley Hospital for Children. So it’s a concert that we do with kids, for kids—we want kids in the audience to get involved—and for the service of kids,” Rickards said. “That’s our aim for this concert.”