the fourth annual CarnEvil party on Halloween night.

Sponsored by the Francis Marion University (FMU) Diplomats and the University

Programming Board (UPB), CarnEvil will take place Thursday, Oct. 31 in the Smith University

Center (UC) at 7 p.m.

The year’s theme, “FMU Horror Story: Asylum,” was inspired by the television series

“American Horror Story” and “The Walking Dead.”  According to senior Patricia Helzer,

president of the Diplomats, “it’ll be more creepy than normal.”

“The most famous horror films that you can think of – they’ll be bits and pieces of each of

them,” Helzer said.

Sophomore Alexis Stokes, Diplomats’ public relations executive, said the organization hopes

to create an atmosphere that makes students feel as if they have entered their favorite horror film

and are surrounded by its characters.

“It’s like going to a party where you’re actually in the movie,” Stokes said.  “Yes, it’s scary,

but it’ll be fun too.”

Stokes added that, by incorporating aspects of familiar movies and the popular television

series, the Diplomats are seeking to draw in an even larger crowd than the estimated 550 students

who attended last year.

Helzer said the haunted house, which will be located at the back of the UC lobby, is being

revamped. “It’ll be creepy and scary; it’s probably going to catch students off guard a little bit,” Helzer

said.

A new and additional activity, cookie decorating, will also be available for students.  The

activity is non-competitive and will allow students to decorate the dessert with different icings

and other toppings.

The UPB, under the council of Student Government Association (SGA), has assisted the

Diplomats in the production of CarnEvil by providing funds, prizes for the costume contest,

music entertainment and food.