By Allison Jones
jones@newsroom.byu.edu
Witches sail through the sky on their broomsticks and black cats howl as they go by, for this is Halloween, but some students are too busy to notice.
For college students, the familiarities of the traditional Halloween customs change. For some, trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-laterns and wearing homemade costumes to school gets lost somewhere between homework, tests and a job.
For others, Halloween night is the time to revert back to childhood.
Matt Hancock, 21, a sophomore studying business from Winslow, Ariz., said Halloween is an excuse to have fun on a school night.
Like some students, Hancock gets into the Halloween spirit by visiting local haunted houses. He said the thrill of a girl grabbing onto his arm in fright almost equals the rush when someone chases him with a chain saw.
Trick-or-treating is still a favorite among students.
In the dorms, students adorned in creative costumes can go door to door collecting treats. Other students will hit the streets on a hunt for the biggest candy bar.
'I'll take my little cousins trick-or-treating, and hopefully reap some of the benefits,' said Alicia Hartley, 21, a senior majoring in human development from Iowa City.
Halloween is also a time for parties.
Several student wards host dances and carnivals, giving members the opportunity to try their luck bobbing for apples and doing the monster mash.
Murder mystery parties are a new trend -- guest's dress up and play the role of a character involved in a make believe murder.
Some students opt to stay home.
It is not unusual to find friends huddled together in the dark watching a scary movie and snacking on popcorn.
'I'll watch some old Alfred Hitchcock movies with friends. Halloween's all about being scared for fun,' said Christi Hartzell, 21, a senior majoring in English from Glendale, Ariz.
Brian Furuya, 21, a sophomore majoring in political science from Monrovia, Calif. said he will be doing homework on Halloween night.
'School is really demanding right now,' he said.
Furuya added he hopes a sympathetic friend will share a treat or two with him.
Despite the workload most students carry, Halloween can be a holiday full of spooky fun. Whatever students choose to do Halloween night, mystery and fright will come alive.