Phi Delta Theta Haunted House Brings Community Together

Eric Woytus ’19 ΦΔΘ says his fraternity’s recent Field of Screams haunted house brought the Phi Delts and Westminster campus together as a family. The event that took place Nov. 3 in cooperation with Westminster’s Alpha Gamma Delta sorority received more than 250 attendees from Westminster, the Fulton community, William Woods University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia. “Some of my best childhood memories are Halloween and fall related,” the Environmental Studies major says. “I’m glad I could share that with my brothers — my family here at Westminster College.”

Field of Screams surpassed its fundraising goal of $1,000 and raised more than $1,500 for Alpha Gamma Delta’s philanthropy, Fight Against Hunger, and Phi Delta Theta’s philanthropy, Live Like Lou. “I’m proud to have created an event that can garner this much cash for charitable donations,” Woytus says.

Woytus serves as Risk Manager of the fraternity. The Ellisville, MO, native says the haunted house is the result of a strategic plan to create fraternity activities that do not rely on alcohol. “It certainly is more work to ‘have fun’ in a dry house with the way campus cultures operate, but the results of this hard work speak for themselves,” he says.

Field of Screams involved days of preparation that resulted in the installation of an elaborate scaffolding outside of the fraternity house, an archway of twisted branches, a temporary corn field on the front lawn, and boards across the windows. Costumes, creepy piano tunes played by Luke Cryer ‘21, and droves of students in scary makeup completed the scary atmosphere.

“I’d like to thank our Home Advisor Bill Whitlow ’69 for allowing us to use his old tools, scaffolding, and other décor to create a fantastic ‘farmhouse’ ambiance,” Woytus says.

Ultimately, with the aid of Phi Delt Sweetheart Danielle Griffiths ’20 ΑΓΔ and many others, Woytus says Field of Screams succeeded because everyone pulled together. “It was one of the greatest feelings to see all my friends bring this to life.”