Student Life ArchivesMix together a fog machine, techno music and body paint, and a Washington University student will be face to face with the School of Architecture’s annual “Bauhaus” party. But this year, the costume party is being held two weeks after the traditional Halloween weekend.
According to junior Samantha Giorgio, treasurer of the Architecture Student Council (ASC), the school had to bump the party back because of scheduling conflicts.
“Parents Weekend is this weekend, which is when we normally have it, and the weekend after this is Dance Marathon, so we had to have it Nov. 11,” said Giorgio.
Bauhaus, a 15-year tradition organized by sophomore architecture students, has always been held as a Halloween party, according to Giorgio. The timeliness of the costume party is not a complete coincidence.
“Bauhaus [was] an architecture school in Germany in the 1920s and one of the things they always did [was] have themed parties. It’s keeping with the tradition,” said Giorgio.
The date change has raised concerns with some students, such as sophomore Leah Bressler.
“I think it’s annoying [that the party is later] because the school should have planned better and not had Parents’ Weekend be the weekend closest to Halloween. Bauhaus is traditionally a Halloween party.” Bressler also expressed her concerns about the weather saying, “[The weather] will be even colder outside two weeks later.”
Others, such as sophomore Avi Rose, are not worried.
“This just means that Halloween will last two weeks longer,” said Rose.
Giorgio did not think that the date change would affect people’s decisions to attend.
“I feel like everyone usually dresses ridiculously for Bauhaus,” said Giorgio. “I don’t know if it being later and colder will really change that. I think if people want to dress up in little clothing [then they will].”
In spite of the changes being made, Bressler agreed. “I still think it will be a fun party.”
In addition to moving Bauhaus back two weeks, this year’s Bauhaus theme aims to educate the campus community about architecture in general. Last year’s theme, “The Sustainable Party” went unnoticed by many students, but this year, ASC is hoping to make the connection to architecture more pronounced with the theme “Pass Le Corbusier.” Le Corbusier is a French Swiss architect known for his pioneer work in modernism, urban planning and furniture.
“We’re just trying to make people more aware of who he is as an architect,” said Giorgio. “The week before Bauhaus, we’re going to try and have decorations inspired by his design.”
This year’s theme will also include a larger focus on education. “We’re going to have an exhibit in the library with.Corbusier building books and we’re hoping to have a model display of the architect’s work.”
Giorgio also said that ASC would host a “spirit week” with themed days, such as “Dress like your professor” day and “Dress like your favorite architect” day, within the architecture school.
Free tickets, required for admission to Bauhaus, will be available in the week leading up to the party. Last year, a rush of students left some students ticketless.
“Last year, we could only get 2,000 people because of the fire code in the tent. People I know made fake ones and were selling them but that wasn’t through [ASC],” said Giorgio. “I think that they’ve always had an issue [with tickets running out].”
Tickets will be available starting Nov. 6 in Wohl Center, Mallinckrodt, and Givens Hall, among other places on campus. The party, which takes place in the Givens parking lot, will last from 9 p.m. to midnight and a student ID is required for admission.