The official Tech Halloween costume contest begins at noon Friday. Registration lasts only until 12:15 p.m., at which time judging begins. Winners will be announced at 12:30 p.m. 

Nearly 100 students and staff participated last year, with a variety of excellent groups and individuals – some gruesome (the cast of Michael Jackson’s "Thriller"), some ingenious (the entire cast of Mario Brothers) and some simply outrageous (isn’t one Naked Sam enough?). Put your thinking caps on and come dressed for success! Prizes will be awarded to the top three students (or groups) and top three faculty/staff individuals or groups.

Also Friday, the Game Room is hosting several contests, with most fabulous grand prizes. The Game Room is offering free play for students all day, with the Halloween Billiards Bash from 6 to 11 p.m. Come play billiards with fluorescent balls under the black lights.

Game Room manager Chris Long said playing pool under the black lights is a bit more difficult, but the game is always fun.

“It’s something special we set aside and people enjoy it,” he said. 

Students are encouraged to enter their guesses in two different contests. One oversized jar is filled with candy corn. The student who guesses closest to the right amount will win a Halo Reach bundle (that’s an interactive online role-playing game, for you old people), which also includes an Xbox 360, extra wireless controller and a headset. 

Another vessel is filled with plastic creepie crawlies – roaches, spiders and other bugs. The student with the closest guess will win a new Toshiba laptop.

The Game Room will also be giving away door prizes every 10 minutes all evening long. The grand door prize is a 32-inch LCD television. The winner must be present to claim the prize. The TV will be given away at an undetermined time.

Also on Friday, the Alpha Sigma Kappa sorority is hosting a Monster Bash Halloween Dance with a DJ at the SAC. Students are encouraged to come dance in costume.

On Saturday, Residential Life is hosting more Halloween activities for all students. Pumpkin bowling and pumpkin launching on the Athletic Field begin at 4 p.m. A small haunted house and food will be in the SAC. A frightful evening of classic horror movies begins at 7 p.m. with a costume contest during the movies.

For those interested in donning costumes one more time, citywide trick-or-treating is Sunday evening.

By Thomas Guengerich/New Mexico Tech