The traditions of Theta Sigma Tau
Halloween Party

Among the parties that occur every year at Ripon College, the BIG fall party for the campus was Tau's Halloween Party. If a student wanted to go to a great party with costumes, contests, and fun, East Mapes was THE place to be.

There is something about the way Taus are constructed that makes them want to put on silly costumes, elaborately decorate the lounge, and act generally goofy. The end of October gave them a great outlet for this and they tended to go all out for the holiday.

The decorations for Halloween were often impressive, the house occasionally going so far as to rent a fog machine to add atmosphere to the lounge. With the number of artistic talents that the house tended to attract, the lounge usually became transformed into someplace very different.

Other traditional elements of the party included a costume contest and a midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The costume contest typically had three categories: best male's costume, best female's costume, and the best costumed group. Voting was based upon the amount of applause the participants got when they were presented during the contest.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show had been a Halloween Party staple since the 80s. Everyone joined in the audience participation parts and a good time was had by all.

Decorations were often left up for weeks after the party had finished. Reports of windows reading "Happy Thanks-oween" in November and "Val-oween" parties in February exist.

Apparently some jokers in the 90s actually managed to add to the House Constitution that Halloween decorations should be left up as long as possible. Around 2000, during a constitutional re-evaluation and update, this item as well as several other anachronistic items (can you say compañero?), were removed from the document.

- PWL