BY KAYLYN HASLUND
For the UAS Whalesong
At the Recreation center on October 30, costumed individuals approached this year’s Graveyard Gala and danced the night away before Halloween. The Recreation Center was decked with the spooky spirit as beanie babies and a few superheroes lurked the halls in and out of the dance area. The Whalesong had nearly every employee there, decked out in his or her best costume.
Felix and Axel were in charge of the music, mixing in certain requests between the songs typically found at a dance, both offering a different mix of style in DJing.  The dancing mostly occurred with specific songs, causing people, like lead reporter Alexa Cherry, jumping to go and dance. The two DJs offered mostly the typical dance music while also listening to public requests that could be found on Spotify. This did lead to big group dances, like the “Macarena” or “Cha Cha Slide” where lines of people maneuvered with each other for the full effect. Group dance circles were made, some large for more adventurous types to go and smaller groups for those who preferred select people, but people walked in and out of both, having fun all over the place. In larger groups people cheered on each other as individuals showed their moves.
Members of the SAB, like Austin Hales, slowly joined in with the groups, trying to rally people’s energy into enjoying themselves, and it worked. They easily corralled everyone into have a fun and active time with friends during the night. They remained in the spirit of the season with appropriate sweets, such as a batch of cupcakes frosted to look like a spider web and assorted candy.
People slowly made their way to the dance floor, and we could see each person’s individual likes and creativity with their costumes come alive. One group came as Beanie Babies, while another came as the Scooby Doo gang. Whalesong Managing Editor Daniel Piscoya was dressed as Daredevil, Ad Manager Holly Fisher as Aerith, and Photographer Darin Donohue as a Jedi. We saw Mel Scriven as the Ariel from “The Little Mermaid” and one individual as a rare Pepe meme. Everyone was decked out to look his or her best and have an amazing experience.
At 11:30 p.m., the costume contest began. There were four different categories: scariest, most creative, group/couple, and funniest. They were decided by whoever got the loudest and most amounts of applause and cheering, which in hindsight never seems to work to SAB’s advantage. It wasn’t surprising who won, just judging by the reactions they received when merely introducing themselves. Jared Jerabek donned his best Captain Hook costume and won most creative. Jean Bennett, dressed as the headless horseman (sans horse) won scariest. David Galaktionoff and his guest, dressed as Jake from State Farm and Flo from Progressive respectively, won best duo. Most funny was won by a mysterious panda bear whose name neither the Whalesong nor SAB was able to obtain. If you have more information, please email whalesong@uas.alaska.edu.
While there wasn’t a lot in terms of events at the Gala, it was fun just to see the campus let loose for even a little bit. Watching freshmen and seniors alike dance to the Cupid Shuffle with the same excitement middle school proms once held. People helped newcomers with the     demanding dances, getting many to participate alongside them. It also felt like an overall school spirit was filling the air as people screamed along to Get Low by Lil’ Jon and creating their own dance moves.
It felt like it was the first time, in a long time, that so many students had come to one of the dances, leaving a pleasant feeling in everyone’s stomachs. The SAB did an amazing job at rallying the people’s collective spirit and getting them to participate in an event.