Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, besides Christmas and Mardi Gras. It’s the only time of the year I can go out in my every day outfits, somewhat more done up than usual, and still be considered socially acceptable, even if I’m stretching the boundaries of good taste.

A Halloween party, co-sponsored by The Mass Media and the Blarney Stone, took place at said Blarney Stone. With music, booze, and a blaring baseball game, it gave our student body, and a few faculty members, some semblance of cohesion for once.

Some of the many prizewinning or unique costumes included Arielle Goldman a.k.a. “The Naughty Nurse,”, Eric Foley as a rather “Big Baby,”, an unknown bethonged male stripper who didn’t seem to be part of any particular group, and the voluptuous “Catwoman.”

The hedonism took place from 9pm and lasted until well past midnight. The lead players in the costume contest had a chance to shake it on top of a pool table at one point while others took the straightforward approach and let it all hang out on the dance floor.

The current director of the Harbor Art Gallery, Ian Boyd, in his own words, “truly proved he cannot dance,” going on to say, “I was trashed and made a fool out of myself.” So would he be coming to the next party? “Sure, if there’s booze, I’ll be there. I’m a cheap date; it doesn’t take much to get me out.”

Most of the attendees came in costumes, some looked on, and others merely looked scared as the crowd got progressively stranger. Early on, the dance floor was nearly empty but as the hour grew later and the crowd loosened up, any inhibitions or reservations any of the guests might have had were shed. What began as a quiet, low-key murmur became an all-out celebration of the silliness that makes Halloween what it is.

Walter, a student at UMB (who asked not to be identified,) stated, “It was a really good party when I showed. Some girl bit me on the neck. I hope I see her at the end-of-semester bash.”

Upcoming plans are being made for another Blarney Stone holiday gathering. The event is tentatively scheduled to take place once finals are done and students are preparing to go on Christmas break.