Halloween was celebrated in distinctive Columbia fashion last week with 24-Hour Night, a deceptively titled event which lasted from

Oct. 26–28.

The 24-Hour Night Kickoff Party, featuring free pizza, dancing and student performances was the first of the festivities. The event was organized by One Tribe, the Student Programming Board and Multicultural Affairs.

“I thought there was a great turn out,” said Nicki Butler, senior radio major who deejayed the event. “The crowd was good [and] the performances were solid. I thought it was a pretty great mix.”

Casey Gold, senior arts, entertainment and media management major and student ambassador for SPB, remarked on the creative mix of entertainment and

student involvement.

“We’re not just rehashing what is already out there,” Gold said. “[The student acts] are up there doing their original work.”

Gold was pleased with the ever-increasing numbers of freshmen the events attracted and that so many students stayed through whole events.

“More people are attending these events, and it’s reflective of the energy [at Columbia],” Gold said.

The activities on Oct. 27 included pumpkin carving, which was sponsored by the International Student Organization and held on the fourth floor of the 618 S. Michigan Ave. Building. They also featured a skating party at Stage Two in the same building, where a skating rink was constructed.

James Girardier and Sean Nixon, sophomore film majors, attended Oct. 27 the events on and enjoyed the doings.

“We have class on Halloween, so this gives us an opportunity to dress up and be weirdos,”Giradier said. “The fact that it’s spread over three days makes it

more accessible.”

The festivities concluded with the Creepy Coming-Out Ball on Oct. 28, hosted by Common Ground and The Muggles Association of Columbia.

“Here are two very different clubs,” said Jesus Torres, president of the Muggles Association and a member of Common Ground. “One is very serious, involved in activism, and then you have a special interest club. To combine both of those, you bring people [who] are interested in everything.”

All the festivities offered a break for the stresses of midterms and a safe way for Columbia students to celebrate Halloween.

“[24-Hour Night doesn’t] just show off our talents.,” Gold said. “It’s us giving students a safe place to party, and there are so many things to keep people’s interest piqued.”