By Mary Moreno |Staff Writer|
Over 1600 people shook their booties on Oct. 25 at the third annual “Howl at the Moon” hosted by the San Manuel Student Union (SMSU) Program Board.
Those in attendance were able to rub elbows with the likes of Batman, the Power Ranger and various sexy versions of Dorothy Gale from Kansas.
At 10 pm the dance floor was a barren land with many succumbing to the wallflower effect.
Once the fashionably late crowd arrived everyone was taken in by DJ SkyHigh’s beats like the quintessential dance movie CSUSB students brought it.
Ana Gonzalez and Jay Garcia came dressed as Kiki and Jiji the cat from the anime movie “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”
“I am having a great time,” exclaimed Gonzales over the music. She was surprised by how different the Student Union felt with a lightening change and some music.
Jesus Gudino and his friends Edgar, Arturo, Juan and Bryan came as The Mighty Morphine Power Rangers.
According to Gudino he was the mastermind behind the themed costumes and wanted to pay homage to one of their favorite shows.
Student Union representative Monica McMahon explained that CSUSB has put on several different type of Halloween dances but none have had the response that “Howl at the Moon” has received.
“I’ve participated all three years and seen attendance go from 300 to over 1200 last year and this year we anticipate even more,” said McMahon.
She attributes the booming growth in attendance to new multimedia strategies the SMSU Program Board has been implementing.
The SMSU Program Board now has an active social media presence with a YouTube channel were they post promotional videos for up coming events.
They still promote the old fashion way with print fliers full of catchy graphics and find the mix between the old and new advertising essential for the attendance gain.
“I think students enjoy having access to free events on campus,” said McMahon.
“With the help of student volunteers and in house furnishing, lighting, and stages it really helps us to continue to put on these large events.” (CONTINUED WHO?)
McMahon was elated that so many people enjoying coming out to this event. Her favorite aspect is seeing the creative costumes people come up with.
Friends Faith Nevarez and Bryan Garcia came dressed as the infamous Sherlock Holmes and his arch-nemesis James Moriarty.
Garcia gave a stoic glace impersonating Moriarty’s character. “Sherlock Holmes is an epic show we had to come dressed up as them,” said Garcia.
Their friends Cesar Estrada came as a botched surgeon with blood drenched scrubs and Valerie Ramirez came as Super Girl.
DJ SkyHigh’s hype man antagonism the crowd by demanding that certain recognizable characters, like the young lady dressed as Pokemon’s Pikachu to dance battle near the front of the stage.
Pikachu graciously obligized when called and so did the gentleman dressed as a green dinosaur.
It’s safe to say CSUSB students weren’t afraid to bring their Halloween A game to this years “Howl at the Moon.”
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