By Gabriel K. Negus
There are not many times in the year when you could bump into a Jedi or a pirate in Houghton. On Halloween, though, anything is possible. How do Houghton students celebrate Halloween? By going to Shenoween, of course!
Named in part for Houghton University’s well-known and currently unused Shenawana Hall, Shenoween is a decade-long Halloween tradition for students at the university. Typically hosted by the residents of Shenawana, the party takes place each year on the evening of October 31 in the dormitory’s basement. Shenoween traditionally features a costume contest, photo opportunities, and an ample supply of the Shen Men’s definitive beverage: IBC Root Beer. Unfortunately, however, due to ongoing renovations in Shenawana Hall, this year’s Shenoween will need – at least temporarily – a new home.
Jared Younger, a resident assistant in Lambein Hall, expressed his hope that Lambein will host the party this year and call it, “Lambeween.” But since then, the name has been changed to “Frankenbein.”
Younger thinks that the novelty of the location change may even bolster attendance, which suffered in COVID years. Lambein has partnered with the Campus Activities board (CAB) to bring in some fresh ideas for the event this year. CAB member Hannah Tyer, named by the board as the ‘Halloween Point Person,’ is tasked with planning this year’s event alongside the Lambein staff.
Tyer’s plans respect the origin of the event by featuring some past staples of the Shenoween party, including the plentiful presence of IBC Root Beer and the popular best costume competition. She also plans to bring in some of the Halloween activities which CAB led during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, most notably the haunted trail walk. According to Tyer, how the haunted trail walk might be incorporated into this year’s party is undecided. Younger discussed the possibility of turning the dormitory’s second floor into a haunted house walkthrough where attendees could go for a thorough scare.
According to Tyer, holding the party outdoors in the Larder Courtyard is possible. Having the event outside would make it easier to facilitate the large crowd of students expected to attend, though due to the routinely chilly October weather here in Western New York, holding the party inside Lambein may be a warmer option.
Whatever it may look like this year, excitement for the party is building in the student body now that it is October. Upperclassmen especially, who attended the party before the COVID pandemic, have experienced memories of Shenoween in its ‘glory days’ flooding back to them in anticipation of this year’s event. Though disappointed that the party is not likely to be held in Shenawana Hall this year, senior Micah Williams is very eager to attend. Williams has fond memories of the 2019 Shenoween, in the fall of his freshman year of college. He attended the party with a group of friends and experienced the costume competition, photo opportunities, mountains of candy, and IBC root beer.
“I had a lot of fun,” Williams said. “There are probably some hilarious pictures of that night somewhere.”
When asked the big question – what his plans are for a costume this year and whether he stands a chance in the competition – Williams responded, “Oh, not a chance I win best costume. I want to go as Obi Wan Kenobi, but if that falls through, who knows?” ★