Students haunt Murray Living Center for Halloween

GVL/ Jessica Hollenbeck

Sophomore Ryan Hartman and Freshman Kellie Howe prepare for the Murray Haunted House.

Jessica Hollenbeck

GVL/ Jessica Hollenbeck Sophomore Ryan Hartman and Freshman Kellie Howe prepare for the Murray Haunted House.

Matt Oberski

On Oct. 25 and 26, there’ll be something lurking in the shadows on Grand Valley State University’s Allendale Campus – the annual Haunted Hall, returning this year for two nights of fright.

The annual Haunted Hall is held in different living centers on the Allendale Campus, and chosen after submitting bids to the Residents and Housing Association. This year, the Murray-VanSteeland Living Center was chosen.

Kellie Howe, chairperson for the Haunted Hall, said the event has taken a lot of preparation.
“It’s definitely been a big undertaking to get started with, but it’s been a lot of fun pulling together a bunch of different ideas and different minds,” she said. “It’s finally coming together.”

Once Murray-VanSteeland was chosen, committees were formed to start setup and preparation in early September. The RHA set a provided budget that they could use, and the living community fundraised for the remaining money needed, Howe said.

There are four committees that have worked on decorating the Haunted Hall, creating costumes and advertising. To help with scaring, about 22 actors have been rehearsing lines and scare tactics.

“Grand Valley continues to prove its reputation for being the hypest school in the mid-west by hosting this Haunted Hall,” said Chris Reibs, a junior at GVSU. “It’s sick.”

The Haunted Hall was hosted by the Kistler-Copeland Living Centers last year and, according to the Residents and Housing Association, had more than 200 people attend. Howe is hoping to top that this year.
“Since this is a two-day thing, we’re hoping that people that will not be here during the weekend will have some time to come Thursday night,” Howe said.

Howe is anxious to see the terrified reactions of the GVSU students, faculty and staff that will wander through the basement of the Murray Living Center.

The Haunted Hall is free to enter and will be open to the public Thursday and Friday from 7-10 p.m. For more information, contact Kellie Howe at [email protected] or the Residents and Housing Association at [email protected].
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