'Twilight Zone' dance planned for Oct. 29

Hayley Tsukayama Staff Writer

This year’s annual all-campus Halloween dance, sponsored by the Class of ’05, will be held on Friday, Oct. 29 in the College Center from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets to the Twilight Zone-themed event will cost $5 and will be on sale from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. that night. $3 of the cover charge will go to the Community Works campaign.

Historically one of the best-attended fall events, this year’s Halloween party will be held on the first and second floors of the College Center, as opposed to exclusively in the Villard Room as it was last year. According to the event’s organizers, this new layout will allow more community members to attend.

Last year, planning hit a snag when organizers sold too many tickets, exceeding the legal capacity of the Villard Room, threatening to violate fire codes. Some ticketholders had to be turned away at the door to keep the party’s size within adherence to fire regulations. Students were unhappy with this unexpected problem and disappointed at being refused entry. However, this year’s planners are mindful of last year’s problem and are taking actions to prevent a similar situation.

“That should not be an issue this year,” said ’05 President Vivek Mahapatra, “We have booked the entire College Center.” According to Mahapatra, the party will be more organized this year, with general activities taking place in the North and South Atriums, bands in the College Center’s MPR, and DJs in the Villard Room.

“All the rooms on the second floor and some on the first will be used...making this party bigger and better,” said Mahapatra. The College Center’s maximum capacity is set at 1,250 people, 400 on the first floor and 850 on the second floor. The College adheres to fire codes strictly, and has already had to enforce maximum capacity rules at other events in previous weeks.

Members of the senior class, along with the Daisy Chain Committee and Daisy Chain members, took on the task of organizing the event. A Halloween committee, co-chaired by Sean Frey ’05 and Adriana Mather ’05, was formed to head the organizational aspects and relegate tasks among participating members of the senior class and the Daisy Chain.

The committee also worked with Vassar Security and Fire Watch to fix some problems of past Halloween parties, such as underage drinking and fire code violations.

This year’s party will feature performances by four bands: Tarantula, Dragzilla, Taylor Brown and the Sour Grapes and, “the band from TH C6 who performed at Jazz Night and still do not have a name,” said Mahapatra.

There will also be, for about a one-hour period, a digital photo-booth to capture the excitement of the night. Music will not be limited to the four bands. Partygoers will be able to listen to several different DJs throughout the party, participate in Halloween-themed activities, and choose from an array of refreshments.

Organizers have planned the party carefully, and encourage students to attend for a fun evening. Mahapatra also pointed to Community Works as a reason to come.

“We’ve been planning this party like no other ever before and its going to rock your socks, shoes, and undies,” said Mahapatra. “Most proceeds go towards Community Works, so it’s a great reason to get your butt off from wherever it is you are, get dressed, and come party.”