Author: Emily Phillips
With Halloween just a few days away, it is finally time for the much-anticipated Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Haunted House, an SAE tradition for over 20 years. Each year, the fraternity transforms its three-story house into a haunted mansion for the enjoyment of the Occidental and greater Eagle Rock community to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network, SAE’s nationally sponsored charity organization.
This year, the haunted house is open on the nights of Thursday, Oct. 29, Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. Each night, students, faculty, administration and community members will line up outside of the side entrance to the SAE house and will be greeted by a tour guide who will take a group of three to four people at a time through the haunted maze inside the house. According to SAE brother Nick Weinstein (junior), the SAE house is “hardly recognizable” after its transformation.
Having never been to the haunted house before, Adam O’Connor (senior) is excited to take a trip through the house for the first time. “I’ve heard good things about it in the past,” he said. “I’ve heard it’s a lot scarier than people think.”
While Oxy community members are able to enjoy the eerie look of the house when it is finished, many may be unaware of the effort that is put into completing the “frat-house to fright-house transformation,” as SAE brother Alex Nourafshan (junior) describes it. This includes turning rooms of the house into anything from the “dot room” to the “exorcism room,” both of which are favorites among SAE brothers.
Construction on the house began on Sunday and will continue until Thursday to make sure the house is ready for opening night. According to SAE, the most difficult part about of the transformation is lining all the walls and ceilings of the house with black material.
“[Hosting the haunted house] is a huge sacrifice for brothers living in the house,” SAE President Thomas Whitacre (junior) said. “Some brothers have to walk through a maze every time they want to get into their rooms.”
The bedrooms are the only rooms of the house that are not transformed in some way, so the SAE brothers living in the house give up areas where they spend their free time for almost a full week. Even the bathrooms are included in the house of mayhem.
“[SAE brothers] will be staring into a bloody mirror when brushing their teeth,” Whitacre said.
However, all proceeds of the event benefit the Children’s Miracle Network, so the haunted house is a very rewarding and worthwhile experience for SAE, despite the time and energy spent on its construction.”I would say that the end definitely justifies all the effort we put in,” Weinstein said. “The more work we put into it, the more fun the actual event ends up being.”
“This is the philanthropy event that I most look forward to every year,” Whitacre said. “I feel good that I am doing work to help the community.”
“This is our biggest first semester fundraiser. It is a lot of work, but it is worth it,” SAE brother Nick Summers (senior) said.
The Children’s Miracle Network, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization that raises funds for over 170 children’s hospitals across the country, according to their Web site. The organization estimates that donations used for medical care, education and research save and improve the lives of 17 million children each year.
Last year, SAE was able to donate over $700 to the Children’s Miracle Network, and they hope to raise even more money this year. Last year, some of the brothers also went to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and were able to personally deliver the donation, along with getting a tour of the facilities and spending part of the day with children in the hospital.
The philanthropy aspect of the SAE Haunted House is a big draw for students who attend. “I like how it’s a fundraiser and that the proceeds go to charity,” Natalie Kolodinski (senior) said.
“That’s an incentive to go.””The Haunted House is a great experience for all involved,” Nourafshan said.
Don’t miss the opportunity this weekend to support students in SAE while donating to a great cause and celebrating Halloween with your friends or family!
SAE Haunted House hours:Thursday Oct. 29 7:00-10:30 p.m.Friday Oct. 30 7:00-11:00 p.m.Saturday Oct. 31 7:00- 11:30 p.m.
Tickets are being sold all week in the Quad. They are $2 if you buy them in advance, and are $3 at the door.
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