Merill Hosts Halloween Dance

Even from far away, students could catch glimpses of brightly colored flashes coming from the music building’s windows. Fake cobwebs and chains wrapped around the balconies, bat stickers decorated the walls and a cackling skull head greeted students entering the building. Inside the lobby, orange and yellow lights projected a warm glow onto the walls as students conversed on the couches.Last Saturday night, Exonians gathered in Powell Hall to celebrate Merrill Hall’s annual Halloween Dance. Organized by the proctors in Merrill Hall, the Halloween Dance featured costumes ranging from Disney princesses to VSCO girls. Prep Kiara Odums appreciated the chance to bond with the other Merrill residents during the setup. “We just broke up into groups,” she said. “If there was a certain thing that needed to be done, two or three people would get it done and then come back to see what else would need to be done.”Senior Patricia Fitzgerald expressed that this year’s setup created a fun atmosphere heightened by the dance’s location in Powell Hall. “It was definitely not what I'm used to, but I liked the way the decorations turned out more here than in Grainger,” she said. “I thought the room would be awkwardly small, but it somehow fit just right.”The location was a welcome change for lower Sophie Fernandez. “Powell was more of a close space, while Grainger is pretty big,” she said. “I also liked the decorations because in the music building there’s more places to hang them up.”At the dance, lower Chieko Imamura enjoyed relaxing with her friends after a long week. “I got to meet a couple of new people—which was fun—and talk to different people I haven’t gotten to talk to in a long time,” she said.Similarly, Merrill lower Anna Tran typically spends Saturday nights catching up with others and valued the dorm-bonding experience. “Having a day especially with your dorm is a very warm environment, and as I invited other dorms over, it became really fun de-stressing on a Saturday night,” she said.Lower Akili Tulloch commented on the music and decorations: “One major thing I liked about the dance was the song selection … Also the decorations were well designed—they fit with the theme of Halloween.”At the beginning of the dance, the atmosphere was stifled, but lower Josephine Elting noticed it became more exciting as time passed. “I think people let go, and by the end of it we were dancing and having a lot of fun,” she said.As the dance continued, a small dance showdown took place, giving students a moment in the spotlight. Prep Brooke Ottaway commented that one of the most memorable parts was "probably the dance circle [because] a lot of people showed off their skills, including me … and it was a really nice experience.” Lower Elanor Andreasson, meanwhile, took the dance as an opportunity to celebrate Halloween. “It’s a good way to celebrate because you can dress up and have fun without having to go trick or treating,” she said.The songs and impressive costumes made students excited for the upcoming Halloween celebrations on campus. Prep Gwen Serrano reflected back upon the exciting night, “The throwback songs were lively to say the least—'Dancing Queen' was my favorite, next to 'Shut Up and Dance,'” she said. “The costumes people wore were also very interesting: I saw Disney princesses, onesies, skeletons and a plague doctor!” Imamura also noted that the dance’s theme broke up the monotony of the weekend. “It was a nice reminder that Halloween was coming, which got me really excited for the week,” she said.After a long week of school work and diligent studies, the students seemed to enjoy the small release from their schedules by loosening up at the lively Halloween dance. From bopping away with the music to relaxedly munching on Crunch chocolates and Gobstoppers, there were many memorable moments throughout Saturday’s party night.