Scaring is Caring at the New Harvest Party

The Harvest party took a wild twist this year with the collaboration of Balport staff and residents with SGA. Instead of having the traditional Thanks-giving infused gathering in the campus mall, the party moved to the Newport dorms as a Haunted Carnival.

Balport and SGA residents alike volunteered for up to 4 ½ hours to make the Haunted house a success. About two of those hours were spent scaring fellow vanguardians as they made their way in groups through the halls of Newport.

Balport Resident Director, Jeremy Pedron says that the goal was not just to give students a good scare, but to enwrap them in a story. The plot of the haunted house was the brain-child of the RA’s, who worked hard to see their scary dream come to life.

While the house was a success, the line to get in was rather long. Next year, Pedron has suggested having a ticketed system in which students would enjoy the party while they wait for their turn.

In future years, Pedron also hopes to expand the party to involve the community. Pedron entertains the idea of having the lower level of the Balboa dorms used as a place where volunteer students can interact with young trick-or-treaters.

“Campus wide we’re trying to do a lot of collaboration in making events we already have more robust” he says, “rather than having so many events.” Ultimately, he says that the number and the proportion of future events depends on the level of student involvement. He encourages students, whether they have a leadership position or not, to participate in the process, whether its by scaring your friends in the haunted house, or by pitching ideas.

“Just as much as Woo Fest is a huntington thing, we want this to put Balport on the map” he says. Pedron started his work as the Balport R.D. midway through the 2014 spring semester. His involvement on campus has proliferated the Harvest Party to incorporate a new dynamic.

Current and prospective Balport residents can look forward to their days in these dorms with this new energy brought into classic vanguard events.

“We want to keep the college experience for junior and seniors just as much” Pedron ensures, “it’s important.”