Haunted house gives birth to fear
Liz Essley
Issue date: 11/5/09 Section: News
Delta Sigma Phi fraternity hosted its fourth annual haunted house Saturday, raising more than $350 for UNICEF's Habitat for Humanity, said sophomore Reid Meador, Delta Sigma Phi fraternity treasurer.
More than 160 people attended the haunted house, according to the fraternity's president, junior Ryon Wiska.
T.J. Chapel, vice president of the fraternity, said the haunted house took about two days to set up. Three to four men were assigned to each room.
The house featured freakish themes, such as the "jester room," the "Democrat room," and - the most controversial theme - the "baby room."
The room consisted of fraternity men dressed as babies, wearing diapers and baby masks, and splattered with fake blood to represent recent birth. One man in the room emerged from a representation of a birth canal on the wall, while two others danced around in the room. The wall decoration consisted of a sheet with a slit in it and a depiction of legs surrounding the slit, Chapel said.
"They simulated birthing," Chapel said.
Before one group entered, the tour guide first declared, "You're about to enter a maternity ward!", according to attendee Travis Lacy, a freshman.
"We like to add some sort comic relief in the middle of the house. Last year it was the banana room, and this year it was the baby room," Chapel said.
Some who visited the house found the room offensive.
"I thought it was definitely, definitely distasteful," Lacy said.
It made others laugh.
"I thought it was funny, and I was not offended in any way," sophomore PeggyDee Jago said. "I know a lot of the guys, and I know they weren't trying to be offensive in any way."
Both Jago and Lacy said the haunted house was well put together; Jago added it was very creative.
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said in an e-mail to The Collegian the only complaint he's received about the haunted house concerned the long line to enter.
"These men work hard at the haunted house - to do a good thing and have fun together doing it," he wrote. "The leadership there told me they plan to review their room themes next year to make sure they aren't going too far with anything. I am satisfied with that."
Chapel said he thought most visitors found the room funny.
"I guess people could take it the wrong way," he said. "I guess when you walk into a haunted house you have to be open-minded."
- Collegian Freelancer Andrea Rotary contributed to this report.
More than 160 people attended the haunted house, according to the fraternity's president, junior Ryon Wiska.
T.J. Chapel, vice president of the fraternity, said the haunted house took about two days to set up. Three to four men were assigned to each room.
The house featured freakish themes, such as the "jester room," the "Democrat room," and - the most controversial theme - the "baby room."
The room consisted of fraternity men dressed as babies, wearing diapers and baby masks, and splattered with fake blood to represent recent birth. One man in the room emerged from a representation of a birth canal on the wall, while two others danced around in the room. The wall decoration consisted of a sheet with a slit in it and a depiction of legs surrounding the slit, Chapel said.
"They simulated birthing," Chapel said.
Before one group entered, the tour guide first declared, "You're about to enter a maternity ward!", according to attendee Travis Lacy, a freshman.
"We like to add some sort comic relief in the middle of the house. Last year it was the banana room, and this year it was the baby room," Chapel said.
Some who visited the house found the room offensive.
"I thought it was definitely, definitely distasteful," Lacy said.
It made others laugh.
"I thought it was funny, and I was not offended in any way," sophomore PeggyDee Jago said. "I know a lot of the guys, and I know they weren't trying to be offensive in any way."
Both Jago and Lacy said the haunted house was well put together; Jago added it was very creative.
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said in an e-mail to The Collegian the only complaint he's received about the haunted house concerned the long line to enter.
"These men work hard at the haunted house - to do a good thing and have fun together doing it," he wrote. "The leadership there told me they plan to review their room themes next year to make sure they aren't going too far with anything. I am satisfied with that."
Chapel said he thought most visitors found the room funny.
"I guess people could take it the wrong way," he said. "I guess when you walk into a haunted house you have to be open-minded."
- Collegian Freelancer Andrea Rotary contributed to this report.
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