Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Layet Johnson

A house with dark corners, blindingly smoky rooms, and creepy figures sitting on the couch-sounds like a typical college party. But these are just a few of the highlights of the haunted house sponsored by Campus Kitty. The Cottage was transformed into a house of horror, all for a good cause.

After its final run on Saturday, Oct. 29, the haunted house had raised over $1,000, according to senior and Campus Kitty secretary, Megan Faulk.

"There were not any costs regarding building and setting up the haunted house," she said. "Everything was donated from either residence halls or individual donations."

It is hard to imagine, when looking from the outside, that the cozy cottage located on Washington Ave. could be transformed into something capable of terrifying college students. Guided by Student Activities director Dave Wagner, senior Nikki Russell entered the house, not knowing what to expect.

"I got tangled up in trash bags hanging from the ceiling because I was trying to exit a room as quickly as possible. I definitely screamed several times," she said.

Senior Joni Podschun, Campus Kitty Homeless Vigil Rep, said volunteering at the haunted house was a great stress relief.
"It was fun to scare people. My favorite part was working in the mask room, which seemed to be a favorite. The clown was also pretty scary," she said.

In addition to visits from Hendrix students, a local youth group visited the house, as well as a fraternity and sorority from the University of Central Arkansas.

"Most of the people that came were college students. A few little kids came through, and they were absolutely terrified. They held on to Brad Howard's shirt, who was their guide," Faulk said.
Campus Kitty committee members voted this week to give the money they raised from the Haunted House to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

"We decided on UMCOR based on the fact that 100 percent of their donations go to help people, not to pay someone's salary," Faulk said.

The only complaints about the haunted house have been directed towards the methods volunteers used to get students to come to the house.

Senior Emily Jenkins was in a library study carrel when two volunteers came and banged on her door, telling her to come to the haunted house. She said they acted angry when she told them she was not going.

"If I wanted to be interrupted I would have been somewhere else, not locked in a corner in the library," she said. "I was studying for my senior comprehensive exam, which was definitely more important to me at the time."

Podschun said she was not aware that these events took place and that perhaps going to the residence halls would have been a better idea.

As for finding volunteers to help build and work at the haunted house, there was never a problem.

"I was turned away as a volunteer," senior Shannon Sturgis said. "I showed up, but they had too many people there already.
"Having too many volunteers is a good problem to have. I think it says something about the students here at Hendrix," she said.

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