Howl tickets only sold in advance
Utah State University students who want their friends from other schools to join them for this year’s Halloween party, the Howl, will have to buy their tickets in advance this year.
ASUSU decided to regulate tickets for the Halloween bash – thought of as the largest in the state – because they wanted to keep the focus on USU students.
“Philosophically, ASUSU collects student fees and the student leaders want to use those fees on the student body,” Tiffany Evans, director of student involvement, said. “Even with the energy spent on a committee and student leaders to plan the event, that focus should be on USU students.”
Students will be able to buy two tickets for the Howl at the student rate of $10 and three additional tickets for $20 each. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Evans said ticket sales have been capped at 6,500 for the past few years due to fire code regulations. She said the decision to sell tickets in advance should not prevent students interested in attending the Howl from doing so.
“That’s actually a reason we’re doing this,” Evans said. “We want opportunities for USU students first. We don’t want to turn away any USU students.”
Laurel Evans, programming vice president for ASUSU, said in the past few years, 55 percent of Howl attendees were not USU students. This year, attendance demographics will be tracked more accurately based on the ratio of student to non-student ticket sales.
“It is usually the random people that show up and don’t have a link to Utah State that cause problems,” Evans said. “This year we are inviting USU students and their friends. If a friend at Utah State doesn’t buy you a ticket, you don’t get in.”
ASUSU activities chair Lisa Watkins said the decision will make the Howl experience more enjoyable for everyone involved.
“With the decision not to sell any tickets at the door, you will not have to wait in long lines to get in and can spend more of your time having fun and enjoying the activities at the party,” Watkins said.
Tiffany Evans said those who want their friends to attend should call them and make plans now. She said, ultimately, the decision will be better for the Howl.
“We have had some feedback saying ‘Who is this event for, what is the purpose of this event?'” she said. “I think it’s a move in the right direction. I hope students who have said ‘I’ve been to the Howl once – been there done that,’ will come back.”
Tickets for the Howl will be available for purchase in the TSC Ticket Office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and extended to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29, the day of the party.
-jenbeasley@cc.usu.edu