Students display Halloween spirit through dorm decor
2 min read
Students showcase their pumpkin carving skills with illuminating Jack O' Lanterns that enlighten the campus in cheery October spirit. Explore the vast decor that surrounds apartments and dorms on campus, bringing a friendly aura of Halloween spirit and fun to UMW students. | Anna Goodman, The Spooky Ringer
by GRACE WAGNER
Associate Editor
Every October, the University of Mary Washington comes alive with spooky spirit as students transform their dorms into haunted havens for Halloween. Cobwebs drape over doors, pumpkins line the hallways and glowing string lights flicker through the windows.
The annual tradition of decorating dorms has become one of UMW’s most anticipated fall activities and a festive way to avoid midterm exam season.
“It’s one of the best parts of the fall semester,” said junior political science and English double major Allie Schwartz. “It brings everyone together and encourages people to stay on campus and throw their own parties.”
Students spend weeks planning their themes, from classic haunted houses and witchy wonderlands to pop-culture-inspired displays. Some Residence Assistants coordinate entire floor-wide motifs, while others go all-out individually, crafting homemade decorations.
“Halloween is one of my favorite holidays and I love spending it here,” said junior studio art major Lucy Hagerman. “It is so fun to go to friends’ dorms and see all their fun decorations and get inspired.”
The decorating tradition highlights what makes UMW’s campus community special: connection and creativity.
As midterms fade and autumn colors settle over campus, the sight of glowing pumpkins and spooky decor reminds everyone that college life isn’t just about studying. It’s also about celebrating together.
Whether it’s a ghost in the window, a candy cauldron by the door, or a hallway turned haunted corridor, UMW students prove that the spirit of Halloween is alive and thriving in every corner of campus.
