Reporter

CSU Bakersfield will kick off the new Runner Nights program with a carnival-themed Halloween party at the Student Recreation Center on Friday, Oct. 30 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

This event is free to any CSUB student with a school ID, and a free meal and dessert will be provided. There will be a costume contest and various carnival games, and students have the opportunity to win prizes such as theme park tickets, parking passes and T-shirts.

Other features include a DJ and dance, laser tag, a superslide and a haunted house.

“It’s intended to really bring all of the campus together in a signature event in the evening to provide a fun, safe environment for our students,” said Emily Poole, associate director for campus programming.

Members of the Runner Nights committee were inspired by events at universities such as CSU Northridge and wanted to create a new tradition at CSUB.

“There are a lot of campuses that have late-night programs that are intended to keep the students on-campus and in a safe environment, so we wanted to try and recreate a CSUB event,” said Poole. “Naming it Runner Nights was discussed within the division of student affairs, and we brought the best of the best together from the different areas to plan them.”

The Runner Nights committee consists of representatives from different organizations around campus including Associated Students Inc., athletics, campus programming, housing, the Student Union and the Student Recreation Center.

“We’re like the United Nations of fun,” said Brittany Lange, residential community coordinator with Student housing. “For housing students, we’re going to have a special pathway that’s going from housing to the SRC, and it’s going to be themed, and awesome and spooky.”

Lange added that the outside of the SRC will be decorated like “wicked woods.” The SRC has had a haunted house for Halloween in the past, but this year’s will be scarier than ever.

“They’re going to have two different mazes when you go in, so you can actually go through it twice,” said Mariah Schultz, who is the SRC liaison for this event.

Students who want to help set up for the event or to volunteer as actors in the haunted house are encouraged to call Mariah Schultz at 661-654-2720.

“We really want this to be an event that students start looking forward to twice a year, and we want it to continue to grow over time,” said Lange.