Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Student Council and the Social Affairs Committee have decided to co-sponsor this year’s Halloween party, which will be held on Saturday October 28th. The Halloween Party has traditionally been held in off-campus dorm Mary Lyons and organized by the Mary Lyons RAs, but this year they declined to host after protests by dorm residents. No student groups presented viable proposals for the party, so Student Council and SAC stepped up to make sure it would still happen.
A location for the party has not yet been chosen, but SAC has reserved several spaces and plans to make a decision by next week. SAC co-president Emily Nolte ’07 stated that this decision will only affect this year’s party, because “what happens next year is up to the student body. Any group could choose to approach SAC with plans for a Halloween party, so there’s the potential for anyone to take it over in the future
if the ML residents change their minds, there’s even the potential that it could move back to ML!”
While the ML RAs are already planning an alternative event, and there is certainly the potential for others to be held, SAC will only be funding the Halloween Party. Nolte explained, “During special events that are seen as extraordinarily large such as formals and Halloween party, SAC has traditionally not allowed funding for other events
anything else that would be happening on that night would be privately funded.”
SAC and Student Council have worked closely on other events before, including the Black and White pre-party for the Blackalicious performance last fall. For this year’s Halloween Party, Student Council will be taking the lead. “We’re dividing up into different committees,” explained Nolte, “and a Student Council member is chairing each one.” This is partially because the SAC Fall Formal will be held the weekend after the Halloween Party.
Nolte stressed that no matter where the party is held, Student Council and SAC will work hard to make it exciting. “Twenty-one people are helping throw this party, many of whom have extensive experience with party planning
we’re combining forces, and it’s going to be an awesome party as a result!”