OUR VIEW: Quietest Howl ever: where’s the hype?

This year USU’s popular Halloween party, the Howl, is going under the (now-traditional) traditions knife. There’s a rumor there’s a dress code, possibly something along the lines of not showing anything you wouldn’t normally. Also, maybe students from other schools will be able to buy their own way into the celebration, as opposed to last year, when a USU ID was required to purchase tickets.

It’s all hearsay, but that’s the problem. Has anyone heard anything definite about the Howl yet?

OK, OK. We do know the important things, like where it is (the TSC, as usual), when it is (Sat., Oct. 28, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.), and how much it costs ($10 each for two tickets, $20 each for six). But you only know that if you picked up a flyer in the TSC. Or if you read the Diversions section today.

Advertising for lots of events, not just the Howl, has been marginal this year. Things are happening all the time on campus, but how many of them are properly advertised? Hardly any. In most cases, only people within a small group hear about things. The Statesman has a page called the Back Burner for people to post bulletins of events on campus and in Logan, but just one bullet on the back page of the Statesman won’t get the word out to enough people to make an event successful.

Another example of an under-advertised event was Homecoming. The bulk of the publicity for this event was signs in the TSC, which didn’t properly explain whether the dance was formal or semi-formal. Big banners across the first-floor hallway said it was formal, while flyers said it was semi-formal.

This sort of confusion can turn people off to attending events. Not enough hype translates into a small turn-out, and no one wants to be one of the few who show up for a so-so party.

According to the Howl flyers and the article in Diversions, though, this year is supposed to be bigger and better than last year. There will be free food, carnival games, a magician, dj’s and live bands. Despite a lack of advertising, it’s still the same old Howl USU students love.