Students wishing they weren’t too old to go trick or treating have another option this Halloween.
The Halloween-themed Late Night BU event will take place at the Markin Family Student Recreational Center.
The event, which are part of the Comprehensive Alcohol Action Plan, is hosted by the Student Activities Office and will take place from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m on Oct. 31.
Some of the activities featured will be a gladiator joust, Velcro wall, Guitar Hero tournament, fortune teller, costume contest, haunted trail, Halloween dance lessons and a showing of classic horror films. The Theatre Department will also be performing the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at midnight.
Students will also be able to use any of the Markin Center facilities, such as the rock climbing wall or the pool, Director of Student Activities Michelle Whited said.
She said everything will be free as long as students can show their Bradley IDs and people who aren’t Bradley students can come if they have valid college IDs.
“For this event, food is being supplied by Alexander’s Steakhouse,” Whited said. “It’s free for the students and includes items such as quesadillas, sliders, wings and kabobs.”
Sophomore mechanical engineering major Sarah Kleckler said she thinks the free food is a great idea.
“I’m really looking forward to attending Late Night BU,” she said. “I’m especially looking forward to the free food.”
Whited said SAO anticipates about 500 students to attend and hopes it will be a success.
“The importance for this came out of the [Comprehensive Alcohol Action Plan],” she said. “It’s also where our funding came from. Research has shown in other campuses where events such as these have been implemented, underage drinking has been curbed. It’s also good for those students who don’t drink and gives them something to do late at night.”
Kleckler said she agrees it’s a good alternative.
“I think Late Night BU is a great idea and it will prevent some people from drinking but I’m not sure about the majority,” she said. “I think lots of prizes will encourage more people to come and also if the events started an hour or two earlier.”
Whited said SAO wants involvement from other student organizations and is in need of volunteers.
She said there is a committee of about 30 students that meet in weekly groups. The majority of these students are involved in organizations such as Help Empower and Teach, Sonar, Activities Council, Association of Residence Halls, Fellows, Residence Life, Student Senate and greek life.
The Halloween Late Night BU will be the first of seven this year, Whited said. The committee is planning three this semester and four next semester.
The next event will take place in November with an international theme. Activities will include ARH’s Suitcase Social and a live band. The committee is still developing ideas.
Whited said each Late Night BU will have a different event and next year, SAO plans on hosting eight events, roughly one for every month.