One Howl of a Good Time:
No more three-hour lines.
No more open invitation.
No more at-the-door sales.
It’s time to give the Howl back to Utah State Students, said Laurel Evans, programming vice president. New restrictions on Howl attendance aim to make the Howl a party for USU students and their friends, not a party for all university students in the state.
According to ASUSU, the Howl has been a tradition for more than 25 years and has earned a reputation of being the biggest Halloween party in the state. This year, ASUSU said they want the focus to be on USU students.
Evans said in the past, 45 percent of attendees were USU students and the rest came from other schools. However, Evans said she is not anticipating a drop in attendance this year. She said she believes those students who haven’t come in the past because of the majority of students from other schools attending will be more willing to come and bring their friends this year.
“The goal is to get USU students to bring their friends,” Evans said in a press release. “The students at Utah State come first and that is why we are making the move to cater to our students first.”
Justin Atkinson, student advocate vice president, said attendance will be cut down because a lot of students are procrastinators.
“Most students don’t buy tickets in advance,” Atkinson said. “A lot of people decide last minute to go to the Howl.”
Atkinson said students may decide not to go to the Howl rather than try to figure out ahead of time if they are going, what friends will be there and how many tickets to buy.
Lisa Watkins, ASUSU activities director it is impossible to estimate what the difference in attendance will be this year, but they will stop selling tickets at 6,000.
“We basically sell out each year,” Watkins said. “Time will tell.”
Tickets for the Howl will no longer be available to purchase at the door. Only USU students with a current school ID will be allowed to purchase tickets. Each USU student will be able to purchase two tickets at the student rate of $10 and three tickets at $20 for friends who do not attend the university. All students attending must show a valid ID.
“It is required to show an ID stating that you are at least 18 years old, but this does not have to be a USU ID,” Watkins said. “So no, you are not required to show up with a USU student. You just need a driver’s license and your ticket.”
“It is usually the random people that show up and don’t have a link to Utah State that cause problems,” Evans stated. “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.”
Atkinson said it may help to cut down the numbers of problems, but will not eliminate them.
“The same students who really want to come will find a way to come,” Atkinson said. “Some of those people who really enjoy it are the ones who will cause problems. They have a chance to come here without much liability, they’re not from Utah State and I think they will still find a way to get in.”
“There’s a lot of issues that need to be controlled,” Atkinson said. “You can’t look the other way because it’s a big party. It can become a big liability for the university.”
The Ticket Office is located in the Taggart Student Center and will be open for ticket sales from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Tickets can also be purchased Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Without the option to buy tickets at the door, the long lines that typically form at the howl will no longer exist.
“For those USU students who didn’t want to wait in the three-hour line to get in, now they don’t have to anymore,” Evans said.
Evans said they are working to create a new atmosphere that focuses on the students at USU and makes more USU students willing to attend.
Watkins said they are hoping this policy will make students show more responsibility and “be smarter in their decisions that night.”
“We are looking to change the amount of arrests made that evening,” Watkins said. “Or the crazy chaotic party that gives Utah State a bad name.”
“A lot of students are threatened by the environment [of the Howl],” Atkinson said. “But the toning down will happen over the years.”
Atkinson said the policies are a good idea, but over the years, the Howl will become “just another Halloween party” for USU students because other schools will be trying to do the same thing for their students.
All of the other universities in the state and in southern Idaho are being notified of the changes to the Howl’s attendance policy.
“I would feel horrible if someone from Dixie drove up the night of only to find out [they can’t get in],” Evans said.
Evans said press releases have been sent out to each university and public radio announcements will be broadcast statewide. Evans said they have typically used the radio announcements to publicize the Howl, this year they are using radio to notify everyone of the changes.
Atkinson said a lot of the people that come to the Howl may not be students, and those who are may not read their school paper or pay attention to the radio.
“It’s the last-minute ones that will be surprised,” Atkinson said.
Evans said plans for this year’s Howl include laser tag in the Field House, a total of six different bands, including Hassenpfeffer and the Bomb Diggity, Final Warning, Broke and Holloh (who recently performed at the Big Ass Show), a DJ and a hypnotist act
Watkins said in addition to glow sticks and face painting, this year there will also be a place to relax and karaoke with friends in the Skyroom.
-emmatippetts@cc.usu.edu