Nightclubs and characters

Columnist Jimmy Viola’s Halloween in Tokyo exposed him to Japan’s satirical perspective of Americans.

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More than 1,000 moist, costumed bodies emulsified in neon, strobe lights and fog blasts. The floor trembled from the concussive bass of the sound system.

The minutes crept closer to dawn. I had been dancing for four hours to the point of delirium.
“As soon as this song ends,” I kept telling myself, “I will leave when this song is over.”

But the house disc jockeys seamlessly blended, faded and morphed into the next, like a boa constrictor determined to squeeze every last drop of sweat from the crowd.

And then I was on the subway at 7 a.m., drenched, air raid sirens echoing in my head, astonished that the soles of my shoes had yet to be eroded into rubber goo on the dance floor.

I was among the hoards of zombies, video game characters, angels and devils in revealing dresses and other pop culture detritus to descend on the waterfront of Tokyo’s industrial district for the Halloween bash at Ageha, Japan’s largest dance club.

Just traveling to Ageha from Shibuya crossing was a party in itself. The club offers a free shuttle every half hour at Shibuya crossing, which was inundated with camera flashes and interlocked arms of drunken foreigners wearing Pokemon costumes, much to the amusement of the locals, some of whom had also dressed up in American novelty costumes, such as Statues of Liberty and cowboys.

Ageha’s assault of electronic rhythms remitted around 3 a.m. for a costume contest. It featured a panel of Japanese celebrity judges I could not recognize, and the contestants included a man who controlled a 12-foot aluminum robot suit and ninja turtles wearing thongs and full green body paint. The finale saluted to Michael Jackson with an impersonator who expertly mimicked every one of the King of Pop’s moves while singing abbreviated, gibberish-English versions of his greatest hits along with even a few popular Japanese pop covers.

The Japanese, it would seem, are a nation of fierce partiers with a working addiction. But after a weekend of all-night dance parties, sometimes I need to escape from Tokyo’s frenetic nightlife and stroll around the calm spots in the city.

Ueno Park is offers three museums, a zoo and several shrines, one being the perpetually burning flame ignited from the atomic bomb at Hiroshima. Street vendors at Ueno’s Shinobazu pond sell scrumptious squid dumplings and grilled tentacles for one to snack on while admire the view of reeds that dwarf men rising from the water lilies.

Before Shinjuku and Shibuya became Tokyo’s entertainment hubs, the title belonged to Asakusa, and it still retains its lure among the locals for its antiquated charm and shopping. It is a profitable marriage of Buddhism and Shintoism, as the religious landmarks are flanked lines of arts and wares shops, eateries and bars.

Even the gravel parking lots are adorned with life-sized statues of Buddha and kabuki performers. One of the most famous landmarks in Asakusa, the Senso-Ji temple, is marked by mammoth paper lanterns hanging from the center of its outer gates, commanding the attention of all who pass.

Along the Sumida river is Tsukishima, another vintage piece of pre-war Tokyo known for monjayaki, a type of stovetop-fried batter. Most of the city’s original architecture was destroyed during the bombing in World War II, but Tsukishima still houses many architectural relics, immediately noticeable by their cascading roof shingles and dark wooden walls.

The surface of the Sumida River was sprinkled with jellyfish when I visited the day after the Halloween madness. Their transparency and gelatinous captured my state of mind after dancing all night with only a few hours of sleep to recover.

Jimmy Viola can be reached at jimmy.viola@temple.edu.

Phillies’ tough Game 3 loss doesn’t phase Halloween partiers

Part three of a multi-part series.

With Halloween and Game 3 of the World Series falling on the same night, Saturday proved to be horrifying for more reasons than one — for most it was the blood-smeared zombies skulking around the city, and for the remaining few it was the Phillies’ crushing second defeat in the Series.
Many college students opted to follow the game from a house party rather than the usual bar or pub so as to celebrate the holiday in costume with friends.
At one such party in University City, students from both Temple and Drexel came with the intention of watching or listening to the game while drinking and dancing.
Unfortunately most were easily deterred – come 1 a.m. no one knew the final score of the baseball game.
“Let me call my dad and find out,” said one Temple partier.
Upon confirming the Yankees 8-5 victory over the Phillies, there was a moment of silence to recognize the loss.
On the other side of town, South Street was still packed with pirates and Lady Gagas until after 3 a.m. Here, too, few seemed affected by the Phillies loss.
At Lorenzo’s Pizza, one overzealous Yankees fan began a “Let’s go Yankees” chant. Surprisingly, only one person came the Phillies’ defense and shouted back, the rest were unfazed, more concerned with consuming their pizza.
It seemed as though this Halloween, the candy, costumes and games trumped fan-hood, for Philadelphia’s twenty-somethings, at least.
Phillies fans have another chance to get their act together in time to cheer on their team for Sunday night’s Game Four.
Michelle Provencher can be reached at michelle.provencher@temple.edu.

Fourth-quarter finish

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – With four minutes, 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, it looked like poor special teams’ play and two interceptions from redshirt junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton would hand the football team its third loss of the season.

Enter freshman running back Bernard Pierce.

His running on the Owls’ last crucial drive carried Temple to a 27-24 win against Navy.

Charlton handed Pierce the ball, and he responded with a 12-yard run on a first-and-10 play from the 41-yard line.

After an incomplete pass and another run by Pierce for six yards, Charlton put Temple’s five-game winning streak in Pierce’s hands.

On the ensuing play, Pierce ran 41 yards to the end zone, and the Owls came from behind to beat Navy. Remember, Navy came from behind against Temple last year in overtime and won, 33-27.

Pierce’s 267 yards on 29 carries (which broke the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for the season) led the Owls to a 6-2 record and six straight wins for the first time since 1974. The Owls clinched at least a .500 record for the first time since 1990 and are now officially bowl eligible.

Temple’s win also snapped Navy’s five-game winning streak and dropped the Midshipmen’s record to 6-3.

“We are built for the fourth quarter,” coach Al Golden said. “Nobody panicked. Give so much credit to Navy for playing the way they played, but I thought our kids just hung in there and really wanted it at the end.

“This team is different,” he added. “This team loves each other. This team has unity. This team won’t crack. They just hang in there and stay together. I see a team that has some poise and believes in the brand.”

Entering the game, Temple’s No. 15 rushing defense and Navy’s No. 3 rushing offense looked to be the marquee matchup on paper.

The Midshipmen did rack up 227 rushing yards on 62 carries.

But late in the game, when the Owls defense needed a stop, the unit came through. The two series prior to Pierce’s game-winning touchdown, the Owls clamped down, especially on the last series, when they forced a three-and-out.

And once Pierce gave Temple the lead, the defense rushed junior quarterback Ricky Dobbs. He threw four incomplete passes (the Midshipmen attempted just seven all day). Sophomore defensive end Adrian Robinson Jr. sealed the victory with a five-yard sack on fourth-and-10.

“This is our fourth year playing against the option, and I think that really helped,” senior defensive tackle Andre Neblett said. “We tried to stay disciplined and make the plays we can make.”

Prior to that fourth quarter, the Owls needed two record-setting plays to overcome special teams’ gaffes and take a 14-10 halftime lead.

Down 3-0 after a 30-yard Navy field goal, Pierce broke through for a 68-yard touchdown run, his longest rush from the line of scrimmage this season. He gave the Owls a 7-3 lead within the span of two plays and 44 seconds.

Pierce racked up 96 yards on 14 carries in the first half. Navy had amassed 106 yards on 30 carries by halftime. With 38 yards rushing on the Owls’ opening drive of the second half, Pierce eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the fifth time in his last six games and put the Owls in position to take a 17-10 lead thanks to a career-high 45-yard field goal by freshman kicker Brandon McManus.

The Owls’ special teams unit didn’t play very special later on in second half, however. On fourth-and-11 from Temple’s 13-yard line, junior punter Jeff Wathne mishandled a low snap, dropped it and then attempted to regain composure and punt. The punt only made it to the Owls’ 12-yard line, where Navy sophomore outside linebacker Jarrod Shannon picked it up. After Shannon fumbled, sophomore cornerback David Wright recovered the ball and ran it into the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-7 lead for Navy.

The special teams’ miscues for both teams didn’t end there.

On the ensuing kickoff, sophomore wide receiver James Nixon returned his second kickoff for a touchdown this year. Nixon ran 100 yards, a Temple and Navy-Marine Corps Stadium record. Earlier in the season, he returned a kickoff in the game against Buffalo 92 yards for a touchdown.

Junior wide receiver Delano Green then fumbled the ball on a punt halfway through the third quarter and gave the Midshipmen prime field position at the Owls’ 29-yard line. Navy capitalized and tied the game at 17 all.

Game Notes: The Owls improve to 2-7-3 all-time in games played on Halloween. Their last victory on Oct. 31 came against Holy Cross in 1936. They won that one, 3-0. The Midshipmen haven’t fared much better, as their record on Halloween drops to 1-13-1 all-time…With the win, Temple improves to 5-5 all-time against Navy. The Owls and Midshipmen do not play each other any of the next three years…The Owls finish October undefeated at 5-0. The last time they accomplished that feat was 1979, the year they won the Garden State Bowl.

Jennifer Reardon can be reached at jennifer.reardon@temple.edu.

Halloween event guide

There will be plenty happening in Philly this Halloween weekend. The Temple News shares its suggestions to spook up your evening.

Oct. 30

Heaven & Hell
Mischief Night Party

Party
Lucky Strike
1336 Chestnut St.
9 p.m., $10-$50

Where there’s good and bad, there must be trouble. Want to get into some mischief? Friday, Oct. 30, Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge presents “Heaven and Hell,” one of the biggest Halloween costume events in Philadelphia. With cash prizes totaling as much as $250 for best group, best individual and sexiest costumes.

The price for general admission tickets, if purchased online, is $10 or $20 for VIP. There will be a two-hour open bar beginning at 9 p.m. VIP tables with bottle services will cost $50 per person and include the two-hour open bar and a table that seats four to six people. These prices will be higher at the door.

You must be 21 years of age to enter, after 9 p.m. ID is required. The entertainment will be DJ John G in “heaven” and a live drummer, DJ Tonka in “hell.” Bowl the night away with some of the scariest and hottest costumes in town.

- Maria Cannon

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Oct. 31

Rebirth of a Dynasty
Halloween fashion show

Fashion show
Mitten Hall
1913 N. Broad St.
6:30 p.m.
$10, $7 in advance

After party
Blue Horizon
1314 North Broad St.
9 p.m.
Free

Dynasty Modeling Troupe is hosting its “Rebirth of a Dynasty,” a Halloween fashion show and showcase scheduled for Oct. 31.

The troupe, which has been a mainstay on Temple’s campus since 2005, has invited the entire campus, in costume or not, to come out and support the troupe under its new leadership. If fierce fashionistas are your thing and elegant Gothic pieces tickle your fancy, this is the show for you.

If not, Dynasty has made sure everyone gets into spirit and fun of fright night at the troupe’s True Blood Masquerade After Party. The show is $7 in advance and $10 at the door. Members of the Troupe and models for the show are selling tickets every day next week on campus and at the Dynasty table in the atrium of the Student Center.

The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Halloween Night in the Great Court of Mitten Hall. The after party will be held at Blue Horizon at 1314 North Broad Street (between Thompson and Master streets). Doors open at 9 p.m., with free entry to everyone who comes in a costume or mask before 10 p.m. But don’t be fooled, costumes aren’t necessarily a must.

- Lauren Williams

Zombie!

Party
Rum Bar
2005 Walnut St.
9 p.m., Free

Ever wanted to be a zombie for a night? Come out to the Rum and Bar Lounge on 20th and Walnut streets for Halloween, where you can not only be a zombie but also drink a zombie.

As defined by the Rum and Bar Lounge, a zombie is a tall mixed drink made of various rums, liqueur and fruit juice. Try one out for just $6, or choose a different drink from their extensive rum menu.

If you’re having trouble conjuring up a costume, there will be a makeup artist on site. There will also be a live DJ for all who want to get their freak on, literally. The party starts 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

- Grace Dickinson

Spirit of Philadelphia Halloween Cruises

River Cruises
401 S. Columbus Blvd., various times, $35.90-$89.90

The Spirit of Philadelphia is a popular Philadelphia attraction that offers a fresh approach to dining and dancing. The local ship hosts lunch, dinner and moonlight parties with three decks suitable for parties of two to 500. Oct. 31 comes only once a year, and the Spirit of Philadelphia is offering guests three options to dine and dance Halloween-style.

First, there’s the Halloween Costume Lunch Cruise, which includes a generous buffet, live music performances and DJ entertainment. The two-hour event encourages costumes, but they are not required. Tickets are $35.90 for adults and $17.95 for children, and boarding begins at 11 a.m.

The Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise begins boarding at 7 p.m. and runs until 10:30 p.m. This murder-mystery party is in honor of the famous Don Corleone, where gangsters and flappers from all over enhance the Godfather’s Annual Gala experience. Tickets are $86.90 per adult.

And the night ends with the Annual “Monster-Bash” Moonlight Cruise. Guests must be 21 or older with valid ID. For two hours, the Spirit will become a floating nightclub, complete with entertaining music, midnight munchies, delicious drinks and creative dancing for $30.90 per person. Wild costumes are encouraged, but masks are not allowed.

For tickets, call 866-455-3866 or visit spiritofphiladelphia.com.

- Michelle Kraus

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Ongoing

Spirits of ‘76 Ghost Tour of Philadelphia

Ghost Tour
Starts at Cosi, 325 Chestnut St., 7:30 p.m., $17.50

The Spirits of ’76 Ghost Tour of Philadelphia has combined history and spooky tales in its “Terrifying Tales From Haunted Philadelphia” tour.

Those brave enough to survive the mysterious walk will encounter more than 20 of Philadelphia’s scariest, most haunted places – including the cobblestone streets of Old City and the spirits of Philadelphia’s most notable residents. The ghost tour, which incorporates “One Part History, Two Parts Haunt!,” gives patrons haunted facts about Edgar Allan Poe, who lived in Philadelphia, as well as haunted folklore, which reveals the ghosts who may still live in the city.

In addition, walkers visit local haunted movie sets and certain “paranormal” streets. The ghost tour, named “frightfully fun” by the Philadelphia Inquirer, is sure to please the thrill-seeking, ghost-tale enthusiast.

Visit www.spiritsof76.com/index.php to purchase tickets online, or visit Così at 325 Chestnut St. before each tour departure. Tickets are $17.50 for adults, $12.50 for children (ages 3-12).

Group and private tours are available, but reservations are recommended. Tours run daily at 7:30 p.m. through October. Additional tours are scheduled Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. Through November, tours are scheduled Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

- Lauren Sheehan

Taking the female approach

When Gary McQueen was eight years old, he was a girl for one memorable Halloween night.

“People opened the doors and said, ‘You’re such a pretty young lady, here’s some candy,’” McQueen recalled, adding that his feminine Halloween costume consisted of a skirt, black pumps, halter-top and jacket, all courtesy of his mother and sisters.

“I have five [older sisters], so they didn’t mind helping out,” he said laughing. “I had lipstick, eyeliner, all that.”

Years later, when McQueen turned 20, he said he enjoyed dressing up his own daughter, now 26, for the first time. And as the number of children increased – McQueen has eight – so did the number of costumes.

“I remember the pumpkin, the hobo, the clown,” McQueen said, counting off the costumes on his fingers. “I forget. It’s been so long.”

While his children are too old to dress now, McQueen said he would still be playing dress up this year with the neighborhood dogs.

“I’m not sure what I’m going to dress them up in yet, but I’ll find something,” McQueen said as he reached down to greet two dogs approaching him. McQueen said the two well-behaved animals belong to the block, where he’ll be hanging out this Halloween.

“My brother and me are carpenters,” McQueen said, pointing to a tape measure he was using that morning to help his friend repair his roof, “so we’ll build a coffin and put a whole bunch of candy in it and let the children go in and get it.”

Others in the neighborhood choose to wait for children to ring the doorbell, but McQueen said he prefers sitting out on the porch.

“I like it better being out because you get to see the kids and you get to make sure they’re safe,” he said. In his trick-or-treating days, a “mean woman” would open the door only to scream at him and slam it in his face, he said. “As long as the kids are safe. There are a lot of crazy people out there.”

Ashley Nguyen can be reached at ashley.nguyen@temple.edu.

Halloween tradition: finding the perfect costume

Every year I go to a Halloween party packed with Jack Sparrows, The Crows and pimps.
I end up striking a conversation with a naughty schoolgirl or naughty police officer and – until now – I’ve always held my tongue.

I get it. Some costumes are more popular than others. But originality is to be appreciated, and the usual crowd that seems to be at every Halloween party clearly hasn’t gotten the message: Their costumes are painfully unoriginal.

The Crow: If it isn’t an emo kid with severe emotional issues dressed as this classic trench-coat-wearing character, it’s a lonely, attention-deprived goth kid with severe emotional issues. The difference between the two is the emo kid will use an acoustic guitar instead of an electric to write you a love song.

You can usually find this depressed little guy in the back of a party, sitting by himself, listening to Marilyn Manson or A.F.I. on his headphones. What this costumed crusader needs to know is that just because someone approaches you at a party, it doesn’t mean anyone wants to hear about your pessimistic outlook on this dark, gloomy ride we call life. Save it for your weekly Twilight screening, and drink your beer.

The Pimp: As funny as it is to see a frail, skinny freshman show up to a party with a big purple hat, pimp coat, chalice and absolutely no female accompaniment, it’s clear the person under the coat couldn’t think of anything better. He’s often found trying to dance with any female close by until he is kindly asked to leave them alone, at which point he’ll proceed to fill his chalice with light beer and resume his attempts at hitting on girls for the rest of the evening. But just because you think you’re a pimp for a night doesn’t mean you can call any girl your “ho.”

The Jack Sparrow: This opportunist has figured that since Johnny Depp isn’t around to date every Temple female, the ladies will easily settle for the next-best thing. As far as this guy is concerned, all he needs is some eye makeup, fake dreads and puffy shirt for the girls to come crawling at his feet. Normally found at the bar, he’ll be serving shots of rum while trying to sing pirate songs, hoping to meet that night’s Keira Knightley. Jack Sparrow imitators: You are not Hollywood hunks, and you are certainly not Johnny Depp. Tone it down a notch.

The “Naughty” Specialists: I apologize ahead of time for hitting on you in my Michael-Jackson-from-Thriller costume. I’m sure there will be a lot of us this year.

So, I beg everyone to think before going out this Halloween. You’ve been given enlightenment on what most have been thinking about your costumes for the past few years. Ditch the conventional costumes, and at least try to be innovative.

Andrew Alexander can be reached at andrew.alexander@temple.edu.

Changing traditions should defy age

Halloween has lost its youthfulness, morphing into a holiday unrecognizable from its original form.

Every year during the holiday season, ABC makes it a point to show A Charlie Brown Christmas – and I make it a point to watch it. I am then usually asked if I’m too old to be watching Charlie Brown.

With Halloween right around the corner, ABC aired It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown yesterday.

In this special, Linus tries to stay up on Halloween night in anticipation of seeing the Great Pumpkin. He eventually falls asleep in the pumpkin patch, refusing to believe that the Great Pumpkin does not exist. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang do the “grown-up thing” and go trick-or-treating, and Sally, Linus’ sister, questions why he wastes his time waiting for the Great Pumpkin when he is old enough to go trick-or-treating.

But how old is too old to enjoy Halloween for what it really is? How old is too old to trick-or-treat or dress up? It seems that once you reach a certain age, you’re not allowed to celebrate Halloween traditionally – you have to find alternatives, which often stray from the original idea of the holiday.

While trying to convince Charlie Brown’s sister, Lucy, to believe in the Great Pumpkin, Linus asks, “You don’t believe the story of the Great Pumpkin? I thought little girls always believed everything that was told to them. I thought little girls were innocent and trusting.”

“Welcome to the 20th century,” Lucy replies.

As Lucy points out, the traditions of Halloween continue to change. Originally a Celtic tradition in Ireland, the Sanhein – a Gaelic and Brythonic festival – honored the end of the harvesting season and beginning of the cold, death-filled winter. Halloween later transformed into a holiday of ghosts, costumes and trick-or-treating – a ritual used during the potato famine to gather extra food.

Halloween has transformed yet again. Now, it is barely a holiday, but rather a festival honoring raunchy clothing and parties. Even children desire the alternative, “older” version of Halloween, which includes more provocative costumes and Halloween parties that hardly involve bobbing for apples. In an attempt to be “grown-up,” today’s tweens are actually missing out on childhood and young adults – mainly high school and college students – are missing out on the integrity of the holiday.

It’s inevitable that as we age we will separate ourselves from the “trivial things.” But, at the same time, we should enjoy all-things Halloween – It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Goosebumps and Scooby-Doo, trick-or-treating, candy and of course, dressing up.

There’s a Linus in all of us – a firm believer that just because we’re growing up doesn’t mean we have to disown the things that once made us happiest.

Samantha Byles can be reached at sbyles@temple.edu.

A Change in costume

“But everyone else is doing it.”

It was the six-word excuse you gave your mother as an 8-year-old, after she tried to forbid you from spending your weekly allowance on Pogs (or a pack of cardboard disks, as she called them).

Thirteen years later, it’s the same thing we college-aged females will say to ourselves as we each decide on either the slutty bumblebee or the slutty ladybug costume.

“It’s like a uniform,” Laura Levitt said, regarding the trend in scantily clad, college-aged ladies every Oct. 31. “It’s about uniformity.”

Levitt, the interim director of the university’s women’s studies program, flashed back to her own college days when she wore a homemade Hershey’s Kiss costume and a pair of cowboy boots – an ensemble she described as “cute.”

But today, cute just doesn’t cut it, and young women are being left with fewer and fewer modest store-bought options.

On Oct. 22, the Columbus Dispatch reported that out of nearly 2,000 female adult costumes at buycostumes.com, more than half are listed in the “sexy” category.

And we’re not just talking tart-like maids and naughty nurses. Halloween shops are “sexing up” all kinds of female costumes, such as the “Nordic Babe” – a supposedly hot Viking – and popular children’s characters like Hermione Granger.

When asked about the standard Halloween dress of young women today, Whitney Cox, a doctoral candidate in Temple’s religion department, said she thinks of “trashy short stuff.”

“Trashy short versions of things that should not be … like trashy short firemen [costumes],” Cox, who is also receiving a certificate in women’s studies, said. “Which is sad because Halloween is such a great opportunity [to play dress-up].”

But Halloween is no longer about playing make-believe. For females on a college campus, the holiday has become about one thing: sex.

Nick Ellerson, a columnist and the associate editor for the Cavalier Daily, the independent collegiate paper for the University of Virginia, explained Halloween expectations of your average heterosexual, college-aged man in an Oct. 19 article.

Ellerson and his peers are “motivated solely by the prospect of seeing college girls sluttin’ it up and wearing roughly the same amount of clothing as the square footage of my left jean pocket,” he writes.
“In a matter of a few short years,” he adds, “we have gone from wanting tons of candy to wanting tons of cleavage.”

Ladies, I wish I could tell you there’s still time to return that Rainbow Brite costume (complete with multicolored thigh-highs), but unfortunately, the average Halloween costume shop enforces a strict, no-return policy.

There are, however, more than 365 days for you to plan next year’s fabulous costume, one that won’t reduce you to a piece of meat – or a Butterfinger, in this case – in the eyes of every frat boy. The city offers a wealth of vintage boutiques and thrift stores; hit one up, and rummage through racks of decades past. You may not find the most provocative costume, but you will find something original.

Remember, exciting doesn’t always mean sexy, and a modest costume doesn’t have to be boring. Plus, you’ll be a heck of a lot warmer.

Chelsea Calhoun can be reached at chelsea.calhoun@temple.edu.

Haunting Content

Dive into the Halloween issue for some frighteningly entertaining reads.

Temple students have enough to be afraid of. In addition to horrifyingly hectic lifestyles, it’s midterm season, and there’s a shortage of swine flu vaccine. But fear not, Temple students – you’re in luck. Escape from your day-to-day struggles with a copy of The Temple News. In our Halloween issue, we cover topics ranging from vampire culture to costume ideas from Temple Athletics.

In case you’re afraid you won’t pick the right costume, The Temple News surveyed students for the most popular choices. We think Michael Jackson and Balloon Boy will be both popular choices this year, but turn to page 8 to see who made the list.

Chelsea Calhoun explores the social implications for females of donning provocative clothing for Halloween on page 6. As Calhoun writes, it’s too late to make returns, but there are still “more than 365 days” to find a costume that “won’t reduce you to a piece of meat” for next year. Ladies, take heed.

If you spend your Halloween on or around Main Campus, a good scare can be found within walking distance. The Pi Lambda Phi house, the Elmira Jeffries dormitory and the Founder’s Garden are three notoriously haunted hot spots on campus. If you’re skeptical, Natsai Todd, Matt Flocco and Nadia Elkaddi did some investigating for The Temple News and profiled each spot. If you don’t believe us, feel free to do some investigating of your own.

Falling on a Saturday, there will be plenty of things to do for Halloween across the city. If you’re still unsure what to do, look no further than Arts & Entertainment. In “The Halloween Event Guide,” on page 10, you’ll find the best events worth checking out.

Temple sports fans luckily have little to fear this weekend. If you are unable to make it to the football game in Annapolis, Md., root for our men’s and women’s soccer, cross-country, fencing and field hockey teams in their upcoming games.

But wherever you end up this Halloween, have fun, and perhaps most importantly, stay safe.

Pillow Talk: Provocative Halloweens controversial

Halloween has been one of my favorite holidays for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, it was because I got lots of candy one night and cake the next. After all, my birthday is Nov. 1.

However, with age has come my appreciation for Halloween style. The costumes I prefer are unique, crazy or just downright hilarious. In my senior year of high school, I fashioned a unicorn costume from a blue wig, felt and a light gray hoodie and sweatpants. There are Facebook pictures to prove it.

I saw a male rugby player last year donning a skimpy French maid outfit – the best photo-op of the night. This year, my roommates and I are going with an Alice in Wonderland theme and purposely not including an Alice.

Obviously, my friends and I aren’t scared of looking or acting a bit ridiculous. However, as out of hand as we might get, we have one condition: lingerie with animal ears is not acceptable. We have a hard time understanding why girls would want to freeze in the chill of fall, wearing overpriced scraps of fabric bought in a sex shop when they can get just as much male attention any other night of the year wearing something as demure as a pair of jeans and a sweater.

So, I decided to find out if my untraditional group of friends and I are the only ones who harbor no desire to look like a sexy animal for the week of festivities.

Sophomore biology major Rachel Chiaverelli is spending her Temple Halloween dressed up as a Playboy bunny.

“But a cute one, not a slutty one,” she insisted. “Bunny ears, a bunny suit that looks just like the real ones, black leggings, white gloves and heels.”

The way she described it doesn’t make it sound too bad. A classy bunny? I love the irony, however unintentional it may be.

On the subject of girls willing to show more skin, Chiaverelli seemed indifferent.

“I mean, some girls aren’t that bad – it is the one night of the year when you have the excuse to look slutty,” she said. “But when girls act like the sluts they’re dressed as, that’s just not cool. I think they realize the next day how unattractive they looked to people.”

Chiaverelli brings up a good point. Don’t let one of your tricks end with the treat of an STD. Ladies – like any other night of the year, exercise caution in your desire to have the same bedroom behavior as bunnies.

Senior English major Andrew Susser has seen a few Temple Halloweens in his day and was more than willing to give his two cents to me.

“Common thought is that it’s an excuse for girls to run around half naked,” he said, beginning to echo Chiaverelli’s sentiments, “but basically it’s no different than a spring day. The only difference between the two is some black and white makeup.”

Honestly, I’d never even thought of it that way. “Slutty” Halloween costumes really are just a seasonal version of summer-style clothes, and what’s wrong with that? The girls get to wear what they want, the guys get to see what they want and everyone walks away a winner. However, when I asked Susser if he particularly liked the bare skin, he said something that made me suspect he’d been reading my notes.

“I’d rather see creativity,” he said.

My extremely brief study yielded somewhat inconclusive results. But here’s what I can tell you, ladies of Temple: creativity counts. In a time where the economy sucks and it doesn’t really matter to girls or guys – well, to Susser, at least – if you’re wearing something you can be seen in during summer, you might as well have some fun, save some money and invest in some Halloween memories that can’t be bought at Condom Kingdom. But if you do decide to exercise your right to sluttiness, wear a coat outside! Having a cold is never sexy.

Libby Peck can be reached at elizabeth.peck@temple.edu.