UMW students travel elsewhere for Halloween weekend

by CAROLINE PREUSS

Staff Writer

With its long history and haunted legends, UMW seems like the perfect place for a spooky Halloween night. However, as the day approaches, many students pack their bags and head to larger cities or universities for the festivities.

In a poll of nearly 100 students conducted by The Weekly Ringer, 56% of respondents said they leave campus to visit another college or university for Halloween weekend. James Madison University, Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia were among destinations named.

“UMW has a good presence for Halloween,” said freshman Madeleine Gillikan. “But I’m going to James Madison University to get a big Halloween experience with thousands of people.”

Awa Fall, a sophomore philosophy: pre-law major, believes that larger schools like JMU have a better reputation for Halloween fun because of their larger student body and higher energy. 

“UMW is not the best place to have parties,” she said. “JMU is known for being a big party university, and I wanted to have fun, so I feel it’s better to just go there.”

Fall continued, “There is not a lot of partying going on here, no one is talking about anything big happening, especially for Halloween. If something were happening here, we wouldn’t have to leave to have a party.”

For those who don’t visit another university but still leave campus, cities like Richmond and Washington, D.C. are popular party spots.

“I’m planning to go to Richmond with my roommates for Halloween,” said Jessica Gross, a sophomore theatre and marketing double major. “Their dad does a really massive haunted house.”

39% of survey respondents said they plan to stay on campus to participate in campus events, host their own parties or relax with friends.

“My friends and I, we’re going out trick or treating,” said Caroline Rous, a sophomore theatre major, who is staying on campus for Halloween weekend. “After that, we’re going to a friend’s house, she’s having a little Halloween party there.”  

Campus hubs like the Cedric Rucker University Center and Panera make an effort to be Halloween-themed for those who stay in Fredericksburg, with decorations like spiderwebs, bats and pumpkins. 

“Everything at the dining hall is very Halloween themed. There are little bats on the cupcakes and people come dressed up to eat dinner,” said Rous. “I really like seeing that even if I don’t have the time to dress up.”

Several students in the poll highlighted events such as the Ghostwalk and Scary Washington, organized by the Historic Preservation Club and the Office of Student Activities and Engagement, respectively. Still, 72% of respondents said UMW is “not really” a big Halloween school, and 20% said it’s “not at all.” 

Darine Djellel, a junior political science and international affairs double major, feels that even though UMW is a smaller school, there are still students who participate in the university’s Halloween events. 

“It feels like everyone puts in effort, from clubs hosting events to students decorating their halls, and the atmosphere on campus is just really good,” he said. 

Djellel continued, “There is something about the old buildings and the history of the university that makes Halloween special here.” 

Several respondents said they would like to see a larger, campus-wide Halloween event in the future.

“I think it’d be nice for the Halloween spirit, to have a party or bigger event here,” said freshman Sierra Hunt.