On Friday, Oct. 31, from 7 to 9 p.m., Union University’s Residence Life hosted its annual Boo at the U event in the Bowld Student Commons.
Activities included pumpkin painting, snacks, campfires, a hayride, a haunted house and a costume contest for students.
The event, organized by Residence Life staff and resident advisors, aimed to give students a chance to enjoy Halloween in a fun and inclusive environment that encourages connection and creativity.
“Boo at the U is a fun, low-stakes event for students to dress up and do some Halloween events that would cost money otherwise,” said Gailey Hollingsworth, residence director for the Heritage Residence Complex. “It pulls different people, like students who are into superhero or anime, into something everyone can enjoy.”
The costume contest, divided into individual, duo and group categories, featured creative entries such as the Avengers, Heathers, Dungeons and Dragons and the Muppets.
Among those participating was Zoe Click, a freshman zoology major, who took part in the group costume contest.
“My group won the group costume contest. We were a D&D party with elves, fairies and an artificer,” Click said. “I saw so many creative costumes and got to talk to a lot of people I usually don’t see.”
For Rhiannon Bays, a sophomore psychology major attending her first Boo at the U, the night provided opportunities for connection.
“It is definitely a conversation starter. You can come dressed up or not — that is what I did,” Bays said. “You might bond with someone over how scary the haunted house was, compliment someone’s costume, meet someone on the hayride and connect with them on campus later.”
The haunted house proved to be the main attraction of the night, drawing a long line of students eager for a scare.
Lily Grace Wamble, a senior psychology major and resident advisor of Ayers 1, led the haunted house setup.
“We transformed the second floor of the Bowld in two hours and kept a consistent theme throughout,” Wamble said. “All things considered, we had a lot of RA’s involved, and this year was one of the most successful ones we’ve had.”
Hollingsworth said the mix of activities at Boo at the U helped make the night enjoyable for everyone.
“Coming to the event doesn’t mean you have to dress up or be super into Halloween,” Hollingsworth said. “By having outdoor activities with s’mores and the hayride, you can just come see your friends and have a chill, fun time.”
