LSU’s Student Health Center opened its doors to students on Oct. 30 for the annual haunted house. With every doorway and corridor decked out in spooky decor, students made their way through the Student Health Center, while visiting informational stations to learn more about personal health and available resources.
“Our haunted open house is an event for students to see our building and then learn about the services that are available to them through their tuition and fees, as well as the medical services that are provided as well,” Rachel Hoover, the wellness coordinator at the Student Health Center said. “It’s really just an opportunity for us to open our doors and invite students in to see us and see our services, our providers, and to learn more about those services that we offer, and doing it with a halloween theme.”
From sexual health trivia to positive pumpkin painting, students had a range of activities to choose from. Each floor of the center boasted a handful of activity and information stations for students to choose from. Completing two stations on each floor earned visitors an exclusive pair of socks and food in the courtyard. Hoover’s favorite part of the event is seeing students come out and get excited.
“Just seeing the students turn out for it each year,” Hoover said. “This year I’ve been hearing ‘I remember this from last year’ or ‘I love this event’, so just that it sticks in students’ minds and they look forward to it year after year.”
Dressed in spooky costumes and prepared with baskets of candy, staff stationed around the center helped students answer questions and navigate through the haunted open house.
“The main purpose is for folks to be familiar with all the different services that the health center has to offer,” Kate Gannon-Callinan, senior associate director of operations for the Student Health Center said. “It’s super fun to have them engage in their health care at an event like this.”
Gannon-Callinan encouraged students to take advantage of the resources they learned about through the open house.
“It’s rare in your life again when you get out of college that you would have the ability to walk to healthcare right where you’re living,” Gannon-Callinan said. “I hope they know that we’re here for them and come back for all these different resources and departments.”
Students enjoyed the event just as much as staff. With some dressed in costumes and others making time between classes to stop by, the Student Health Center was full of life despite the ghostly decorations.
“My number one takeaway is to take care of my body more,” Michael Poirrier, a student who visited the haunted house said. “Everything was about taking care of yourself, it was kind of sweet.”
If you missed the Student Health Center’s haunted open house this year, don’t be frightened. Make sure to stop by next year to see what you missed.