Ohio University has registered fewer students to stay in its dorms during Halloween weekend, but its revenue may still be higher than previous years.
OU raised its guest fee for the first time in four years. With the $10 increase, an on-campus weekend stay will cost $35 during the Halloween weekend.
“The costs continue to go up of all the extra staff to watch the doors,” said Ryan Lombardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs.
Kent Smith, previous vice president for Student Affairs, signed off on the fee increase before leaving OU for Langston University.
Though almost 1,500 guests are registered to stay in the dorms during the weekend, only 1,100 are expected to show, if historical trends continue, said OU Spokeswoman Katie Quaranta.
Revenue from Halloween guests is put into an account that supports alcohol education and outreach programming, said Jenny Hall-Jones, interim dean of students, adding that the account has traditionally supported the program.
Student accounts are only charged when visitors sign in. In the previous four years, an average of 81 percent of guests who register for Halloween came to campus.
Once a guest is registered in the system with an OU student, the visitor can be either approved or denied by that student’s roommates.
“We are well prepared,” said Peter Trentacoste, executive director of Residential Housing. “We are really looking forward to it. This being my first Halloween, I’m excited to get out there.”
During the previous five years, the number of students who have registered and the amount of OU’s revenue has decreased. The university has made more than $200,000 in Halloween guest fees since 2007.
“I always, in weird way, look forward to Halloween,” Hall-Jones said. “It’s a nice, collective event. In some ways, it’s the whole university and the city coming together.”
sj950610@ohiou.edu
