By Sergio Legorreta
Reporter
Three nights of treats and spooky Halloween frights await those who choose to enter the haunted house on Fountain Mall.
The haunted house, part of the Baylor and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity tradition known as Fright Night, is returning to campus this week after a one-year hiatus.
The event is organized by the fraternity, also known as Fiji, and dates back to 1996. Fright Night was canceled last year because of the fraternity’s suspension from campus activities after a violation of university policy.
“Coming back on campus this year, we are very eager to show Baylor what our organization is capable of,” said Omaha, Neb., senior Garrett Korbitz, Fiji chair.
Fright Night is free and will be open to the Baylor and Waco communities from 8 to 11 p.m. today and 8 p.m. to midnight Thursday and Friday.
Fright Night features a 14-room haunted house, where Fiji fraternity members dressed in costumes will try to scare attendees throughout the differently themed rooms. Cornerbooth photographers will be on site to capture the event for participants. Free hot chocolate, candy and door prizes will also be available.
“We want it to be a place people can gather at and have fun,” said Tyler junior Mason Jones, recording secretary of Fiji.
Fright Night T-shirts will be on sale at the event. Shirts will work as a fastpass, allowing purchasers to go to the front of the line at the event. Long sleeve shirts cost $15 and short sleeve shirts cost $10.
All proceeds from the event, including T-shirt sales and donations will benefit Waco Young Life, a non-denominational Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school and college-aged individuals. Individual donations will be accepted at the event.
Korbitz said more than 3,000 are expected to turn out, which is about the number of people who attended in previous years, despite the hiatus. He also expects fundraising will be even better than in previous years.
“We have already raised over $1,500 in T-shirt sales for Waco Young Life, which is what we usually gave in previous years,” Korbitz said. “We expect to do about double that. Most of our T-shirt sales are done at the event.”
Fright Night was organized in conjunction with the Baylor Activities Council and made possible by donations from Baylor student government, Panhellenic Council and local businesses including Northwestern Mutual, Raising Cane’s and La Fiesta.
“We have put a lot of hard work into the event and have some surprises in store for everyone who attends,” Korbitz said. “We really just want everyone to come out and support Waco Young Life, have a few scares and have a good time.”
