Collins-Brown’s haunted house banks on ‘definite scares’

Pedestrian traffic beware.

Any students walking on North Woodlawn Avenue today might run into “Dr. Hart Chopin,” the murderous surgeon who haunts the lower levels of Collins-Brown.

From 7 p.m. to midnight, tour directors will lead brave groups through the mad surgeon’s hospital, where strange experiments are alleged to be taking place.

This is the second haunted house that the Collins Living-Learning Center has organized in the Brown building, and sophomore James Estes said it’s hopefully not the last.

“I hope this will become a tradition,” Estes said. “I’ve always had an interest in the amusement industry, especially haunted houses.”

Although the event is free, participants are encouraged to bring a canned good to donate to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. This organization works with other non-profit agencies to provide food to more than 25,000 individuals a year.

“I don’t know how successful (the food drive will be),” said freshman Dan Warner. “But it’s definitely a good thing.”

Despite leading the organization of the event, however, Estes doesn’t take all the credit. He said the haunted house’s back story, along with the rest of the work, was a communal effort.

“One night when Dr. Chopin was driving home, he got into an accident,” Estes said, explaining the story behind the haunted house’s concept. “His wife and son both die, but their hearts are still beating. Now, he must conduct experiments on victims.”

For several weeks now, members of Collins have been meeting and organizing the different “scare tactics” and publicity for the house.

One student planning on attending the event is freshman Taylor Bryant, who is bringing an entire palette of goods to support the cause.

“James Estes is fear-fantastic,” he said. “I’m hoping for some definite scares. ... I plan on not being able to sleep after.”

In addition to IU students, the haunted house has also invited a group of children from The Rise!, a non-profit organization that serves women and children who have experienced domestic violence, homelessness and poverty. Each year, Collins hosts a group of these children for trick or treating and Halloween fun, and tonight they will be invited for an early, less intense tour of the house.

For more information on The Rise!, visit www.indiana.edu/~iubhonor/honorvol/Rise.php. Information on how to help the Hoosier Hills Food Bank is available at www.hhfoodbank.org.