Music and eerie outfits filled the room from every corner of the 1st floor of the 1104 S. Wabash Ave. building during the annual Black Out Party hosted by Columbia’s Black Student Union. The dim lights, cobwebs, bloody footprints and horror scenes displayed on screens encompassed the space as attendees danced to hits from Nicki Minaj, Chief Keef and Ice Spice.

This year, the party, held on Friday, Oct. 6, featured a Halloween costume contest where students got to dress up and win prizes.

The categories included: most creative costume, cutest costume, funniest costume, best celebrity costume, best group costume, scariest costume, best pair costume and the most original costume.

First year fashion studies major Brooklyn Moore wore a costume inspired by her love for rock culture.

“All I heard was BSU and I said I know that’s right. So, I came out. I am not necessarily a party person, I love parties, but I don’t get out that much, so why not,” said Moore. “It’s Halloween, my favorite time of the year.”

Moore won the category for cutest costume.

Cornell Franklin-Smith, a first year film and television major, came to the party to connect with new people.

“I really just wanted to meet people, to be around people that I am like. It is kind of weird connecting with some people when you are not like them,” said Franklin-Smith. Franklin-Smith repped Ghostface as their costume.

Symphony Ely, a junior illustration major, dressed as a vampire. It was her first-time celebrating Halloween and living on campus.

“It was my first year for a lot of things. It is my first year living in Chicago, so I am actually able to go to BSU. I can finally be out and connect with my school,” Ely said.

For first year dance major Journee Williams, the party was a place for her to feel a part of her community.

“I went to a predominantly white high school, so once I found out that Columbia has a program that has just Black students, I was very excited to participate in that so I can meet more people that are African American,” said Williams.

Williams dressed up as the devil which was inspired by Doja Cat’s recent song, “Paint the Town Red.”

BSU president Karrington Cox, a senior fine arts major, said the goal for the event was to “allow the Black Student Union to have an opportunity to have fun together, celebrate their accomplishments and have an opportunity to be free and meet new people. This is a safe space where students are able to be themselves.”

BSU meets biweekly on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.