ROTC scares students at North Hall

After watching the maize and blue win Saturday's big football game, many Wolverine fans celebrated by lining up for the 12th annual ROTC haunted house.

The terror-filled production was held in the basement of North Hall - a site that housed an operational morgue years ago, when North Hall served as a Central Campus hospital.

Along with smoke-filled hallways, spider webs, Star Trek officers in full uniform and the movie Scream's ghoulish white-masked killers, the building's erie history added to the Halloween spirit of the two-day event.

More than 1,000 students braved frigid weather and slight showers Friday and Saturday nights to catch a glimpse of what the haunted house had to offer.

This year's haunted house raked in an estimated $4,400 - a total that was slightly lower than amounts generated in past years. ROTC plans to donate the money to the Ann Arbor Ronald McDonald House and Ann Arbor Hunger Coalition.

MALLORY S.E. FLOYD/Daily Attendees of the 12th annual ROTC haunted house scream in terror Saturday night.

Ryan Ona, one of the previous haunted house coordinators and Navy ROTC participant, said this year's effort was a success.

"As long as people are having a good time ... we are satisfied," Ona said.

To battle the cold, a group of LSA seniors drank hot chocolate while anxiously waiting to reach the warm, but creepy doorway.

Engineering first-year student Rari Burshell kept warm despite being clad from head to toe in a cow costume. "I came dressed for a night of terror ... but I hope this haunted house will not be my last," Burshell said.

Many students said the haunted house's reputation drew them to North Hall.

"Last year's haunted house was awesome," said LSA sophomore Kristina Spitale.

But not everyone said the event lived up to its billing.

"The setup was good, but it just wasn't scary enough," said Nursing sophomore Amy Ellison.

Most of those who turned out said they had a great time, including Navy ROTC participant Tyrone Voughs. While Voughs directed the traffic of on-lookers through the haunted house's maze of attractions, he lip-synced the popular "I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost" from the 1980s smash Ghostbuster's.

LSA first-year student Kelli Allen said she enjoyed being scared so much that she walked through the house both nights.

LSA sophomore Tiffany Mitchell agreed that the haunted house was full of thrills. "I was really, really scared and my eyes were closed most of the time ... it was worth it," Mitchell said.

McDowell said the Ronald McDonald House is grateful for the support of the ROTC and the students who volunteer their time to the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House provides housing for families of sick children at Motts Children's Hospital. McDowell said last year's proceeds provided nights at the hospital for 160 families in need.

Ann Arbor Coalition's Director Susan King said she admired the unselfishness of students. "It's great to see young adults thinking of others needs," King said.

The Ann Arbor Hunger Coalition's mission is to provide evening meals for those without means to provide for themselves. The service provides between 100-140 meals a night at local churches.

The coordinators of the ROTC haunted house, Jason Doster (Air Force), Stephanie Amsler (Army), and Mark Thomas (Navy), said they spent a month preparing to make each scene of the haunted house a memorable one.

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