Trick? Or Treat?

While officials say changes in the ticket sales policies for this year’s Howl curbed problems of the past – creating shorter lines and eliminating security issues – the changes had some partygoers asking, “Where is everybody?”

The Howl, USU’s annual party that is known to be biggest Halloween event in the state of Utah, has often been the target of debate.

Several changes were enacted in regards to this year’s Howl, the most noticeable being no tickets sold at the doors.

According to ASUSU, the reasons behind the change were they wanted to make the event more accessible to USU students, keep the lines shorter and help keep disturbances at a minimum.

Those who helped put on this year’s Howl said that all these goals were met.

Nathan Putnam, ASUSU executive vice president and a senior in philosophy, was over security at the eastern entrance to the TSC. Putnam said he was very pleased with the effects of the changes.

“I did security last year and the change with the flow of the line has been incredible,” Putnam said.

According to Putnam, last year, with tickets being sold at the door, the line stretched to the parking terrace. “This year, I think the longest the line has been was 20 people and that’s good for everyone.”

Putnam said that they had more of a problem with people wanting to wear masks or bring in props than they did with people not having tickets.

Austin Catlin, a senior majoring in rangeland science and a Howl volunteer who helped with security on the west side of the TSC, agreed.

“It hasn’t been a problem in any way, shape or form,” Catlin said.

According to Catlin, the biggest issue was from people not bringing a photo ID with them. “We’re going to recommend that they print that on the back of the tickets next year, just so everyone knows.”

The rule requiring ID to enter wasn’t new this year and is in place to keep those under the age of 18 from entering.

Steve Meecham, chief of the USU police department, said he was pleased with the results of the new rules.

“It’s gone pretty well,” Meecham said. “There’s still been a few alcohol problems, but nothing to the extent we’ve had in the past.”

According to Meecham, between 25 and 30 officers were on hand at the Howl. Officers were from both the USU campus police and the city of Logan.

Many of those on duty said they were impressed with how much calmer things were this year.

While most volunteers and organizers said they felt the changes were a complete success, not everyone agreed.

Many students expressed discontent with the changes or with the Howl, especially when compared to years past.

[This year’s] not as good,” Jake Reed, a sophomore in business finance, said. “I liked last year how it had more events.”

Even getting into the Howl was more difficult for Reed with the new rules.

“I didn’t know we had to buy tickets in advance, so I showed up without one and had to pay double to some scalper.”

According to Reed, there were several people looking to sell tickets outside the TSC.

Finding tickets wasn’t the only problem people wanting to get into the Howl faced.

Weston Hayes, a sophomore studying business at the University of Utah, drove from Salt Lake City to attend the Howl. He and his friends were able to get tickets through people they knew at USU.

According to Hayes, this is a popular thing for students in Salt Lake to do.

“Everyone there knows about the Howl,” Hayes said.

However, he dropped off his friend who had the tickets and went to park his car. When he returned, his friend had disappeared. Hayes tried to talk his way in, but to no avail.

“All I’ve been able to talk to are kids,” Hayes said, expressing his frustration. “They’re all just volunteers and it doesn’t seem like anyone’s in charge.”

Despite his experiences, Hayes felt that the changes were for the better.

“I came last year and the line is way shorter this time. We were able to get tickets and I’m sure most people who really wanted to go were able to get them too.”

Despite the efforts of the Howl staff, people were still able to get around the rules. Hayes got a wristband off of another person leaving for the night and got in through the reentry door.

Aaron Williams, an undeclared freshman from BYU, was also able to get a ticket through a friend at USU. He said although he thought it was more of a hassle, he understood the logic behind the change.

“It was kind of a pain,” he said “but I guess they had their reasons.”

Williams, who was attending his first Howl, said that he was disappointed in the event as a whole.

“Where’s the big part, the part with all the people?” he asked as he walked through the second floor of the TSC.

Williams wasn’t the only one to comment one the attendance.

Alica Garcia, a senior in electrical engineering, attended the Howl her freshman year and didn’t want to come back. After coming this year with her husband, she still wasn’t impressed. “I think it was better then because it had more people,” she said.

Nate Dutson , an undeclared junior and one of the deejays in the Hub, said he felt that the Howl has a lot of potential but that many of the changes were unnecessary.

“A lot of the so-called problems aren’t really problems and are just based on religious beliefs,” Dutson said.

Walking home after the Howl, Shauna Smith, a senior in public relations, expressed her disappointment with the event. “Compared to last year’s, it was boring.”

A student becomes a human sprinkler during the hypnotist show Saturday night at the Howl. Ticket sales for the event were limited to USU students this year and officials say the new policy helped curb problems.