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CAMPUS KITTY PRESENTS:
HAUNTED HOUSE
ALAINA MAY | STAFF WRITER
Photo by Flynn Hirrel
Any horror movie fanatic can attest to the early 1980s forest cliché. A villain or monster, wielding some sort of weapon, silently and listlessly stalks his prey while she clumsily and somehow attractively stumbles through a densely wooded area that she thought would be a good hiding place. If a few movies didn’t spring to mind, you might need to watch some
of the classics. Evil Dead, Friday the 13th, Cabin in the Woods, and The Blair Witch Project would be commendable places to start.
Despite the fright felt during a movie, it can typically be laughed off later because who, in this reality, experiences that many jump scares...in pitch darkness...in the middle of the woods? Funnily enough, all of those who attended this year’s haunted house put on by Campus Kitty endured just that. Charity Bratcher, a senior at Hendrix College and the President of Campus Kitty, strongly encouraged that students and Conway residents attend this annual event at the Hendrix Creek Preserve and donate, as all the funds raised goes to nonprofit organizations that Campus Kitty sponsors. “If you are afraid of haunted houses or get a little jumpy, just remember, we’re college students! We’re not crazy. We’re not super professional, but it’s fun and silly,” Bratcher said. According to the screams that could be heard from a mile away, “silly” might not be the way some attendees might describe it. While they may be college students, those who volunteered seemed to frighten enough teenagers that Freddy or Jason would be questioning his tactics. Couples and friends alike walked cautiously, constantly using one another as both a guide and a shield against the villains lurking in the darkness. The Student Life and Technology Center held multi-story haunted houses for years, with the attic and service elevator being transformed into somehow even creepier settings. With 2020, however, came COVID-19 and Campus Kitty was unable to host a haunted house. Last year was the first time that the Creek Preserve was used, and it was an immediate success. Awareness Chair of Campus Kitty and Hendrix senior, Lily Black, agreed that the Preserve is the perfect backdrop for such an event. “It has worked out really nicely because the Creek Preserve is naturally spooky, especially at night,” Black said. “I think we put on a pretty successful haunted house, which obviously would not have happened without the help of the entire CK [Campus Kitty] team!”
Around thirty-five volunteers helped decorate the Preserve, set up the equipment, led groups of people on the barely visible path and acted as killers and monsters for hours. Their effort in creating a frightening yet entertaining fundraiser is extremely commendable.
Connor Escajeda, a senior at Hendrix and the Treasurer of Campus Kitty, said that this year’s haunted house was the most successful in turnout and profit as well as fear factor. He holds that, while Campus Kitty events financially assist nonprofit organizations; they also greatly benefit the Hendrix community. “I think it contributes to making Hendrix feel more like a home because everything you could want to do; we have it at Hendrix,” Escajeda explained. “Overall, I think our events just help create a more positive and fun environment on our campus while also allowing us to give back to charity.” te power that white people latch onto to maintain their false sense of superiority. Markle endangers the legacy of the pure white monarch. The racism built into the systems that operate within society is inescapable and poses a threat t
