It’s the end of October and you just pulled your rabbit ears out of the closet. Or maybe you finally tried on that bro tank and realized that this costume was your true form. One way or another, State Street will literally be bursting at the seams with Harley Quinns and Harambes by 1 a.m.
But before all that madness starts, before the spilled beer awkwardly ruined your chances with that girl in The Rat, and before you sent that text you shouldn’t have, there was the pregame. Ah yes, the pregame, the precursor to all the weekend madness. At every other pregame, you’re probably listening to Flo Rida and throwing back shots. But not this pregame. This one is different. This is Halloween.
1) Decorations — You don’t need to turn your dorm into a haunted house, and you definitely don’t need to spend a lot of money to make your suite seem festive. When it comes to decorations, it doesn’t have to be fancy. You can use anything that might be scary and hang it up. If you’re a sophomore, try taping up a printed version of your empty Degree Works on the wall. If you’re a senior, then hang up your most recent GRE result. Nothing is scarier than the future looming over your head. But if that doesn’t do it for you, then check out the Halloween section of Wal-Mart for orange lights and fake cobwebs.
2) Music — OK, so now your suite is spooky, but what about the vibes? No Halloween party is complete without some good old tunes, so check out Pipe Dream’s Halloween playlist for all your musical needs. If you need some more ideas, try playing some famous movie scores. Even without the threat of the Dark Lord, John Williams’ score to “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” will get you in a creepy mood. If “Harry Potter” makes you more happy than it does scared, then check out the music from movies like “Jaws” or “Carrie.”
3) Drinks — So, now the mood is properly set, but what is there to drink? Frankly, what you’re drinking doesn’t matter as much as what you are chasing it down with. It might be Halloween, but it’s also still fall, so be festive. For an incredibly seasonal drink, mix Fireball and apple cider. It can be served both hot and cold, so if your mood is “I need to prepare for State Street’s freezing chill,” then sip this warm drink before you trek into the cold. Regardless of your drink, remember that it’s the Solo cup that counts. Get black and orange Solo cups for just the right aesthetic. Now when you wake up in the morning and need to clean your whole suite, you’ll still feel in the holiday spirit.
4) Games — Sure, you have drinks and vibes, but what about games and activities? Halloween is the perfect time to show off your knowledge of fortune telling. If you don’t have that knowledge, then it’s a good time to start learning. Try reading your friends’ fortunes with tarot cards, or pull out a Ouija board to connect with the spirits of Binghamton’s past. If those games don’t satisfy you, then go for something simple, like “pin the tail on the donkey.” For a scarier version, get political and try pinning the candidate in the Oval Office.