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It’s that time of year once more, when a chill is in the air, and there’s a distinct eerie feeling creeping up your spine… Or maybe that's the midterm you forgot about until this exact moment. But while there’s plenty of haunting to go around this month, it’s not just creepy crawlies and angry ghosts that have our heart rates skyrocketing.

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No, all it takes is being a student in college, because your life is already full of frights! So, in honor of spooky season, we’ve compiled a list of Harvard jumpscares that have kept us on our toes all October long.

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Seeing your section crush in the dhall

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You mean to tell me that you exist outside of the highly specific dreamland I’ve cultivated through sheer boredom? Crazy. Something about them is so alluring in a classroom, and yet, under the cold and scrutinous lights that illuminate our every meal, that spark is missing. Did I ever really think they were cute, or was it that I needed something to look at other than the work I was meant to be doing in class?

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Running into your TF outside of class

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It could be anywhere. A restaurant. The JFK St. CVS. The gym. I didn’t even realize you had a life outside of the classroom, and now you’re showing up at the table next to me at Le’s? Consider my timbers shivered.

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When a midterm grade drops unannounced…

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…which famously occurs like clockwork on the night of a haunted Hallow’s Eve party… it’s the spookiest thing you’ll see there, I promise you that.

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“You’re out of BoardPlus”

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Already? Say it isn’t so! BoardPlus was the only thing keeping my caffeine problem in a semi-affordable budget range — financial ruin, delivered in those four (five?) meager words.

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Your freshman-year situationship

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Harrowing. I left you in Season 1, what are you doing here now? This honestly applies to any and all freshman-year characters that you forgot existed despite saying, “Of course, we should totally catch up” the last time you saw them (about two years ago). Where have you been? Why haven’t I seen you? Why am I seeing you now? Is this a punishment? The questions are ongoing.

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Seeing someone you know at the MAC pool

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You think nodding awkwardly at random acquaintances in the weight room is bad? Give it a go in a swimsuit, with goggle lines giving the appearance of a tired raccoon and hair so wet and ratty you may as well have climbed out of the Charles. Humbling, to say the least. My heart drops into my stomach whenever someone so much as looks at me.

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Pretzel-encrusted chicken in the dhall

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I don’t know, man… there’s just something off-putting about the pretzels being soggy and the chicken being dry. Something isn’t adding up. Now, when it's chicken parm, well, that’s a different story. If you saw me shoving someone aside on chicken parm night… no, you didn’t.

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The Harvard Square Turkeys™

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Ending with a universal Harvard College experience, the Harvard Square Turkeys have no shortage of frights to give. They lurk, they gobble, they stare. You never know when you’ll turn a corner and see a puffed-up bird posturing at you from the middle of the sidewalk.

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As we’ve established, Harvard’s a scary place! Wishing you all happy hauntings and the best of luck on the rest of your midterms, assuming you survive them…

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Before you ask, no, this isn’t a PSA from Harvard’s administration about how they’re suddenly hosting a "safe" school-sponsored Halloween this year. It’s much more important than that.

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It seems that while we rest in our ivory towers and twin XLs at this small liberal arts institution just outside of Boston, we often lose touch with the inner child within us. Remember the days when you would galavant outside with your friends during recess, trading lunch items and living for the simple joys of life? We too often become caught up trying to be “adults” and forget those moments. Instead of focusing on securing that Bain return offer (or partying in Holworthy basement for a “crazy lit movie” of a Halloweekend), feed your sweet tooth, live life on the wild side, and explore the world around you!

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So, in an effort to feed that inner child in me, I went trick-or-treating this past week. With my Where’s Waldo costume (bracing myself for the “I found you” and “Where are you?” comments), I was ready to embark on this spooky escapade. Joined by my trusty sidekicks — a giant inflatable pink shark, a gingerbread woman, and a cowgirl — I set out with my own Harvard College Costume Gang (known by all my homies as HCCG), devoted to restoring the art of living Halloween on our campus. Our mission: to discover the readiness of our peers for the holiday we grew up loving and participating in.

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But before we could brave the rugged terrain along the Charles, our journey began at 14 Plympton — the headquarters of The Crimson — where we plotted our journey out like a covert operation. Each housing neighborhood has its perks: I briefly considered heading to the Q-Block (which you may know as the Quad), rumored home of the elusive king-size candy bars, but quickly ruled it out for the sake of my mental health. It was just too far. As for Lowell, Adams, and Quincy, well, they’re already blessed with their “perfect” location smack in the middle of campus and hot breakfast, so I figured that they already have enough — the other houses need to be visited by the spirit of Halloween.

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So, what’s left? The River Houses: where the views are scenic and the residents are, well, usually happy enough to provide trick or treaters more than just a packet of raisins (spoiler alert… they toe the line). From the concrete blocks of Mather to the bougieness of Eliot, we set our sights on a riverside route that spoke to my candy yearning heart. After all, with great riverside real estate comes the great responsibility of giving out top-notch treats (and maybe even a good trick or two).

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Stop 1: The Crimson Scaries

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To kick off our quest, we knocked on the door of our fearless leader, J. Sellers Hill ’25. They say don’t get high on your own supply, yet I beg to differ. Our president, ever the symbol of Crimson bravery, greeted us with a singular jar of peanut butter, complete with multiple spoons sticking out of it. Clearly, he doesn’t leave HQ much, but this was probably his way of fueling up for yet another late night of dealing with our News staff, or an elaborate cry for help? Either way, it made me wonder if our adventure would be just as questionable. Undeterred, I rallied my candy-craving comrades and set out into the night, ready for chaos, candy, and perhaps a few choices we’d definitely reconsider in the morning.

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Stop 2: The Ghost of Mather Lather?!?

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As I approached the haunted concrete fortress of Mather House, I was, frankly, terrified. The stairwell seemed to be trying to hypnotize me to sleep, and from the get-go I knew I was dealing with a haunted house. When I passed through the haunted gate, an ominous drumbeat echoed from somewhere inside (maybe the JCR, an especially hallowed spot), pulling me deeper, becoming louder with each step, until finally, I reached my first door... and suddenly the sound cut out.

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I knocked, and out wandered a senior lad, visibly flabbergasted to find a trick-or-treater on his doorstep. Clearly, the Halloween spirit hadn’t yet reached Mather. Yet, with a bit of motivation, he embraced the opulent occasion and gifted me a beautiful, albeit slightly past-its-prime, dhall clementine. Classic Mather — always at the forefront of embracing health (though luckily not raisin box level). Upon receiving the spherical object (is it still to be considered fruit?) I heard the drums play again, but as I turned to go, a neighboring student opened their door and I quickly descended upon her doorstep. Offering a handful of red fireball candies to me, she, in return, took a handful of candy out of my cauldron (without asking?!?!). Whether she was celebrating Halloween or just had a serious case of the munchies, I’ll never know.

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I set off toward Dunster — the haunted red-domed home, where I was sure to endure a marathon of meese puns that would haunt me far beyond Halloween.

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Stop 3: Devious Dunster (I definitely didn’t get lost… wink)

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To begin, I really would’ve really appreciated some signs in this building. I couldn’t figure out where the heck the dorms were (bad meese). For reasons beyond my control, I can only say that I received a bountiful amount of apple-cinnamon oatmeal in Dunster. I microwaved it for breakfast the next morning, and let me tell you, it was scrumptious. Though it may not be your typical Halloween haul, at least Dunster's commitment to fiber is unmatched.

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More respect must be given to Dunster — sure, it was far, and yes, I did get lost somewhere between its grand arches, but I exited with a little extra pep in my step, courtesy of a mysterious liquid offered to me in a dimly lit dorm. Who knew getting lost could be so... hydrating? Next I was called to head to the eyesore I know as Leverett.

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Stop 4: Lev (but dead?)

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I went across the street to the looming Leverett Tower G. Determined, I knocked on five different doors, each time baffled by their advanced doorbell technology — it was like watching my grandma struggle with her iPhone. But despite my efforts, not a soul answered.

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Leverett left a king-size-candy-bar-sized hole in my heart that no amount of Halloween spirit could fill. They’re officially that neighbor — the one who leaves their porch light off and doesn’t even put out a bowl of candy. Just darkness, emptiness, and the faint whiff of disappointment.

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Leverett, you’re on thin ice: first, bushes that are impossible to jump into, and now this. I’m getting tired of you.

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Stop 5: Winthrop (The Nightmare on Mill St.)

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Next I went to Winthrop, which, with its sterile hospital vibe, could double as a horror movie set. Yet, the residents were surprisingly gracious to a wandering trick-or-treater like myself.

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Not only did they bestow upon me a handful of Jolly Ranchers, but also an entire pumpkin. Yes, a whole pumpkin — a gift that felt almost diplomatic. I’ll graciously overlook the, let’s say, unique aroma of its dhall as a testament to their goodwill.

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Thank you, Winthrop, for this curiously charming Halloween experience.

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Stop 6: Eliot (The Final Gauntlet)

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Lastly, I wandered to Eliot House — the domus, the fête of the bougie elite. Knocking on three dorms in search of treats, I was prepared for elegance, mystery, maybe a decadent candy bowl. Instead, the first door swung open to reveal… a suite full of tricks.

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On one side, a roommate was ruthlessly cranking out pull-ups, getting the normal 11 p.m. pump in. But, just as I gathered myself, the other resident — dark and shadowed by the dim stairwell light — looked me dead in the eye and hit me with a dab. A dab. Was he frozen in 2016, haunting these halls with outdated moves? Would I ever financially recover from this?

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I stumbled back, haunted and spiritually adrift, bracing myself for more tricks. But then, the Halloween gods took pity on me: a king-size bag of M&Ms and a lone peanut butter cup appeared at the next door I went to. With that, the strange dab spell lifted, and my Halloween quest for the ultimate prize — a king-size — was complete.

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Eliot had answered my call for help, ending my night in perfect fashion.

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A Halloween Postmortem (Candy, Chaos, and Questionable Life Choices)

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So this Halloween, honor the legacy John Harvard would demand for his institution! Don’t let Oct. 31 pass by like any other Thirsty Thursday (the 12-pack of Tweas will always be there) — embrace it with the spirit of those who built this hallowed institution. Don your wildest costume, gather a group of amigos, knock on doors with unapologetic enthusiasm, and stockpile that candy like your education depends on it.

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Halloween is more than a holiday; it’s a call to reconnect with your inner child and find joy in the spooky, silly, and sweet. Go forth and haunt with pride!

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With two Halloweekends this year, the pressure is on. You not only need one costume to make your ex jealous, you need TWO. How can you come up with enough costumes for all of the Crimween-style parties, you may ask?

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I propose an idea. Perhaps you are so dedicated to your house you want to show off some house pride? Perhaps, you’re just yearning for a way to save money by borrowing from HoCo?

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So, dress up as your House mascot.! But… I get it. Some mascots fit the occasion better than others. Which is why we’ve worked hard to inform all of you which mascots are in and which are (sadly) out.

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Coolest Costumes:

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Mather Tower
\r\nHands down the top choice for recognizability. It’s easy to make with a refrigerator box (ask HSA), and slightly scary to some. Honestly, someone needs to bring the Mather Tower some love — I personally love it, and it could change its reputation.

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Kirkland Boar & Winthrop Lion
\r\nOf all the animal mascots, these are the coolest, in my opinion. They’re unique, and no one else will probably dress the same (unless they read this). If you go to a non-Harvard party, it can work elsewhere; you can pretend to be Pumbaa or Simba from The Lion King. Bonus points if you go together!

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Random, but Better than Other Houses:
\r\nThese are definitely… unique, but I would giggle if I saw them in the wild.

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- Lowell Blue Man – It’s just goofy, you could pretend to be part of the Blue Man Group.

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- Currier Tree – I love this costume, super recognizable.

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- Lev, but Elle Woods version – Remember the scene where she shows up in the bunny costume to a non-costume party? Imagine that, but green. I’m biased because I’m in Leverett House, but I feel as if this would be very iconic. However, it has been done before.

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OK, but Not Super Recognizable:
\r\nHere’s a list of animals you could go as. They all have the same vibe and wouldn’t be recognized as a mascot, just an animal costume (maybe a “Mean Girls” reference):

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- Cabot – Fish

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- Pfoho – Polar Bear

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- Eliot – Elephant

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- Dunster – Moose

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- Quincy – Penguin

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- Mather – Gorilla

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- Lev – Bunny

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Not great:

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- Adams Acorn – I would giggle, but I don’t think this would be recognizable.

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- Lowell Bell – Don’t go as this. Just don’t do it.

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These costumes work best if you’re going to a house-specific function, but they could be fun at the club. Maybe reach out to HoCo’s to see if they could organize a costume-themed house event. No matter what you go as, be sure to be safe and have a happy, happy Halloween! :)

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Halloween is one of the most wonderful times of the year because it’s an opportunity to show off your creativity and ingenuity through a thoughtful and well-crafted costume. Or, if you’re too lazy for that, you can just do one of these low-effort Harvard-themed costumes instead. Please note that if you do do (ha ha, doodoo) one of these costumes, you are legally obligated to tag @flybyblog on all your posts and staple a piece of paper advertising Flyby Blog to your costume.

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A Communal Bathroom Puddle

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Imagine this: you’ve had a long day of classes followed by grinding away in Lamont, followed by more classes, and you’ve finally arrived back in your dorm, ready for a hot, relaxing shower. You enter your hallway bathroom only to find the entire place is flooded, making it completely unusable. The horror! What could be scarier than that?

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For this costume, you’ll need:

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- A bucket of water to periodically throw over yourself throughout the night to really get that moist, drenched look

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- Either wading boots or a tasteful assortment of mushrooms to tape to your bare feet to emphasize the threat of communal bathroom foot fungus infections

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- A sheet of paper with the text “Follow @flybyblog on Instagram!” stapled to your shirt

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Celsius Can

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The Harvard student’s relationship to Celsius is a difficult one: a mix of love, admiration and toxic codependency. This costume is sure to terrify all of the students out partying instead of studying for their midterm the next day.

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For this costume, you’ll need:

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- A white shirt, black shorts, and a black cap

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- Fresh fruit to tape onto your shirt

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- A bubble wand and bubble solution for that ~sparkling~ effect

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- Crazed, shaky eyes

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- A tattoo pen to tattoo “Follow @flybyblog on Instagram” on your forehead

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Cs50 Duck

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There are many ways the world could end: rising sea levels drowning us all, devastating heat waves that kill off all of our crops and leave us with nothing to eat, a terrifying new disease that’s spread through communal bathroom puddles. But I think the most realistic way is the CS50 Duck becoming sentient and taking over our world. First, it expands to universities across the globe; then, it moves into high schools. Before you know it, it starts making guest appearances on late-night talk shows and hosting SNL. BAM! CS50 on Broadway! CS50 ON ICE!

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For this costume, you’ll need:

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- Yellow paint (for your entire body — yes, even down there)

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- An orange duck bill mask

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- An “I teach CS50” shirt

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- Duck flippers

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- Encyclopedic knowledge of CS50 material such as “What is the percentage of students who take this class SAT/UNSAT?” and “What does David Malan wear every day?”

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- The ability to quack “Follow @flybyblog on Instagram” in a convincing Donald Duck impression

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Rats
\r\nThis one is kind of self-explanatory, but rats actually lend themselves quite well to a group costume. Rats come in all shapes and sizes, just like people, and some people in the group could even be mice if they wanted to. While they don’t often move in packs, if I learned anything from Ratatouille, it’s that rats have a strong, unbreakable bond with each other that even the most tight-knit friend groups could aspire to.

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For this group costume, each person will need:

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- A rat onesie, or an all-brown outfit with cardboard rat ears

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- Cheese

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- The ability to scurry quickly across the floor

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- A genuine sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around them

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- A subscription to Flyby’s newsletter Harvard Today, your #1 source for Harvard news and events

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The Crimson Cruiser & The 1636’er

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If you’re looking for a couple’s costume, look no further. If having to check Passio GO! wasn’t enough to send a shiver down your spine, then the slow realization that it’s the weekend and you just missed the Crimson Cruiser or 1636’er shuttle to the quad definitely will.

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For this couple’s costume, both people will need:

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- A black and white outfit with either crimson or neon green accents

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- A place to hide every half an hour

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- A driver’s license (for legal reasons)

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- A flashing neon sign saying “READ FLYBY”

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There you have it: five terrifying, low-effort Halloween costumes perfect for those who still haven’t figured out what they’re going to be. And isn’t that the scariest part of life? Not knowing what the future holds? If it’s any solace, I do occasionally get visions about the future, and I see you following @flybyblog on Instagram in the very near future. Like right now. Go!

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Harvard's a pretty spoOoky place, and never more so than during Halloween! This week, Flyby is bringing you (skele)TONS of Harvard Halloween content to get you in the festive, frightful spirit. Check it out below!

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Monday, Oct. 28 — Spooky Season

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Making Your Dorm Spooky on a Budget: We’d all love for our dorms to reflect the coming of spooky season, but not all of us have funds to spare for thematically appropriate decor. But there’s no reason to be afraid — or is there? — because Flyby has some spending-free décor inspiration for your dorm.

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The Houses as Halloween Candies: As Spooky Season descends upon us and all Harvard students decide they will actually socialize on one spirited October weekend (or two!), we must not forget the best part: candy! Stick around to discover which sweet treat perfectly encapsulates your House.

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Top 10 Harvard Alumni to Summon in a Seance: If you’re going to do a seance this spooky season — a ritual with candles to try to attract a ghost to speak with you — then you need to know who you’re summoning. Have no fear: Flyby has compiled a top-10 list of ghosts to attract.

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Tuesday, Oct. 29 — Chaotic Costumes

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Flyby Tries: Trick-or-Treating at Random Dorms: We went trick-or-treating this past week. Our mission: to discover the readiness of our peers for the holiday we grew up loving and participating in. Also there were costumes.

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5 Low-Effort Harvard-Related Halloween Costumes: Need a last-minute costume? Find some Harvard-themed ones here.

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A Comprehensive List of House Mascots as Halloween Costumes: Dress up as your House mascot.! But… I get it. Some mascots fit the occasion better than others. Which is why we’ve worked hard to inform all of you which mascots are in and which are (sadly) out.

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Wednesday, Oct. 30 — Mom, I'm Scared!

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How to Scare Yourself: Harvard Edition: Harvard life is spooky enough without the costumes. So, this Halloween, embrace the true frights: psets, Canvas grades, and the eternal struggle of surviving the Fly-By lunch line. Stay safe, stay caffeinated, and remember: the only thing scarier than midterms? Your inbox.

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The Scariest Places on Campus: The scariest thing about Harvard might just be some of its buildings. To celebrate this, we’re rounding up some of the most frightening places you may have the misfortune to visit while you’re a student here.

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Harvard Jumpscares: Harvard can be a spooky place! In honor of spooky season, we’ve compiled a list of Harvard jumpscares that have kept us on our toes all October long.

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Thursday, Oct. 31 — It's Halloween!

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How to Celebrate Halloween In Class: How do you celebrate Halloween Day if you technically should be student-ing? Fear not, Flyby is here to give you ways to celebrate without putting you behind on your color-coded gcal.

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How To Rewear Your Halloween Costume: The great thing about this year’s Halloween season is that the spooky holiday lands in the middle of the week, making it socially acceptable to dress up multiple days throughout the week without getting strange looks. So, whether you are in denial like me or you just want to party it up multiple times, here are some ways you can reduce, reuse, and recycle your costume.

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Halloweekend: Which Weekend Is It, Really?: It’s spooky season, people, and the long awaited Halloween is on its way. But this year the day falls in the middle of the week, leaving everyone to wonder: Which weekend is Halloweekend?

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The timing of Halloween relative to other… auspicious campus events is somewhat suspect this year. Must it immediately follow Family Weekend? Does it have to fall right before Election Day? This hodge-podge of high-energy campus events really messes with the sensation of spooky season in campus spaces, meaning that our dorm rooms remain the last quarters free to fully revel in Hallows’ Eve. But, amidst midterms and the typical constraints of student life, time and funds to transform your dorm into a space to feel the Halloween magic are short. That’s why Flyby has compiled our top tricks (and treats, get it?) to add some spook to your suite, no witch’s wand required.

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Robbery

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In the spirit of Halloween, our first piece of advice is on the mischievous side: steal. Many (much better funded) spaces on campus are decked to the nines in décor fit for this spooky season — or for fall in general; I’m not picky. The dhall is a prime target for a decorations-focused heist, but I’m sure you, dear reader, have seen decorations in other places and felt the urge to see those decorations in your dorm room. This time, give in to the urge; you and I can blame it on a random possession. And, besides, you’re stealing what, a plastic pumpkin? That’s hardly grand larceny, so don’t sweat it. For legal reasons, Flyby and its writers do not endorse participation in any illegal activities, regardless of the scale of the crime, and cannot be held responsible for actions taken by their readership due to overinvestment in the spirit of All Hallow’s Eve.

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Recycling

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If a life of crime isn’t your speed, you can always look to items already in your possession to decorate your dorm. Paper your walls with your midterms and psets, or if your midterms are stacked towards the end of the semester (lucky), print your Canvas announcements to inspire some dread every time you look anywhere in your suite. If you have such a positive relationship with your education that this strategy fails for you, you could try the boring option of printing out horror movie posters, but that just feels impersonal.

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Arts and Crafts

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If you’d like to add even more of a personal touch and get your hands messy, drop by your House’s art studio (or Holworthy Basement, if you’re a first-year) to prepare some handmade decorations. I once tried (and failed) to make a papier-mâché goose in fifth grade — please don’t ask — so I’m inclined to suggest sculpting your own miniature CS50 duck. If that’s not scary enough for you, a bust of your professor’s head is sure to do the trick.

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DIY Pets

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If you’d rather have some blood on your hands, get some cheese from the dhall to lure your extra roommate (read: unwelcome rodent) into a (non-injurious) trap. (You could also ask Yard Ops or your building manager for a no-kill trap, but nothing worth having comes easy.) You can then showcase your new pet in its cage home for the rest of spooky season, featuring it in a prime location by your doorway to jump-scare unsuspecting visitors. Even better, once spooky season has ended, you can dress up your rat in festive gear to serve as a makeshift Elf on the Shelf. Side note: If your new friend bites you, please quarantine. I’d rather not take my midterm while suffering from the bubonic plague.

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Grovel

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I’ll admit, most of our advice thus far has been rather high-effort. Do you really need to go to the trouble of sourcing or creating your decorations yourself? Not if you can convince a kind senior or alum to donate their decorations! This one is rather self-explanatory, but you will need to factor in some time to convince your would-be benefactor that, by virtue of graduating college (or being close to doing so), they are so decrepit that they themselves are the only spooky décor their future abode will require. (Flattery and/or asking nicely might also work.)

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You might have noticed that all of the suggestions above are environmentally friendly. That’s not entirely by accident; reduce, reuse, and recycle is an applicable slogan in the realm of dorm decor, too. In all seriousness, if you look to the materials already around you, you’ll be surprised at how spooky you can make your space with a little bit of ingenuity. Clementines can serve as pumpkins with just a few dabs of Sharpie, and trash bags and toilet paper are staples of spooky season décor (and costumes) for a reason. And if you’ve really got your heart set on having a Chucky animatronic in your dorm room — why, I don’t know — leaning on others is its own brand of resourcefulness; maybe one of the consulting groups (unlikely) or your engineering friend (more likely) can give you a hand.

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As Spooky Season descends upon us and all Harvard students decide they will actually socialize on one spirited October weekend (or two!), we must not forget the best part: candy! Stick around to discover which sweet treat perfectly encapsulates your House.

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Adams: Twix

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They’re on the Gold Coast, so they have to give out golden-wrapped candy!

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Cabot: Toothbrushes

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It’s the House that you only go to because it happens to be in the neighborhood with the good candy (or in the Harvard bubble, good dhall). A practical and useful gift, but your parents would be happier than you about it.

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Currier: King-Sized Chocolate Bars

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It’s the house that’s far away, but it always has solid candy. It’s on everyone’s trick-or-treat maps for the night, and there might even be a line going down the block. Currier has great facilities and food, so the trek tends to be worth it.

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Dunster: Hershey’s Kisses

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Desirable, but not a candy that will leave you star-struck. Dunster embodies this with its beautiful dining hall and its prominent number of doubles.

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Eliot: Dollars

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Do I really need to say more?

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Kirkland: Sour Patch Kids

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Remember watching those chaotic Sour Patch Kids advertisements as a kid? They give the exact same energy as the Choosening does.

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Leverett: Cadbury Mini Eggs

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I associate this candy with bunnies, and Leverett always has the cutest Housing Day bunny spirit! (Don’t say this isn’t a Halloween candy, they literally do a Halloween version. They’re called Mini Harvest Handfuls.)

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Lowell: Lindt Truffles

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These truffles are bougie but not crazy expensive, so they are the perfect balance between luxurious and accessible. I feel like they could be served at the iconic Lowell Tea.

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Mather: Starbursts

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Starbursts are tasty but chaotic because they get stuck in your teeth while you’re eating them. This dichotomy reminds me of Mather’s sketchy elevators but spacious tower rooms.

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Pforzheimer: Jumbo Gummy Bears

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Pfoho would embrace its inner bear, but they would put a chaotic spin on it (in a good way).

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Quincy: Jolly Ranchers

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A fan favorite, definitely a sweet the People’s House would give out. Everyone would swing by during the night and grab a handful of Jolly Ranchers!

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Winthrop: M&Ms

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A plain, nice candy for a House with nice rooms and little to no personality. A solid pick, but maybe not the candy everyone always brags about.

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If our Houses were to transform into these candies for Halloween, the festive spirit would surely sweep across campus, making the spooky season even more bewitching for everyone. Here’s to hoping for some real candy distribution next year — Happy Halloween, Harvard!

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Updated October 28, 2024, at 6:17 p.m.

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We’re in peak spooky season, which means the spirits are floating around, ready to cause mischief. And Harvard certainly has a lot of spirits to its name. Almost 400 years of alumni means there are plenty of people to speak to from beyond the grave… So which ones should you go for? If you’re going to do a seance this spooky season — a ritual with candles to try to attract a ghost to speak with you — then you need to know who you’re summoning. Have no fear: Flyby has compiled a top-10 list of ghosts to attract.

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1. Robert Frost

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Starting off strong with the author of a very autumnal poem. Ask him if it really made all the difference.

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2. Cotton Mather

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Mather was an ardent defender of the Salem Witch Trials; say you’re a witch and watch the lights flicker!

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3. Henry David Thoreau

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You simply must clown him for how his mom did his laundry when he was at Walden.

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4. Any Roosevelt

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If you’ve talked to one, you’ve talked to them all. And they basically all went here, so.

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5. Hellen Keller

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Girlboss. Radcliffe legend. You can tell her how Harvard did Radcliffe dirty and rage together about it.

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6. Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Be sure to tell him how creepy you think the statue of him in Emerson Hall is.

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7. J. Robert Oppenheimer

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Ask him about Cillian Murphy! We’re sure he’d be super happy to discuss.

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8. John Adams

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No, not that one. No, not that one either. Yes, that one.

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9. Ted Kaczynski

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Definitely a scary guy. He’d probably be into the candle aspect of a seance since it’s luddite-core.

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10. Barack Obama

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He’s very much not dead, but everyone really seems to want him to be on campus. Maybe this is the way to do it.

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Be sure to ~summon~ us first if you try these out — we want to see what happens! Happy haunting!

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After weeks of an on-again-off-again relationship with the sun — never really knowing when it was officially time to put my t-shirts away — it’s safe to say that sweater weather is here to stay. Along with cozying up in sweatshirts and sweatpants, it’s finally time to get into the spooky Halloween spirit (yippee!) by watching reruns of “Girl vs. Monster” and Amazon priming last-minute costumes. The only issue is… Halloweekend 2024 falls on family weekend… just like it did last year (not yippee). As you brace yourself to take a page out of Hannah Montana’s book on how to balance a double life, read our tried and true tips on how to scare your parents:

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1. Lie about having midterms to study for

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Look, being a college student is especially hard during midterm season. With paper after paper, and exam after exam, it can feel like there is no end in sight. Without a clear finish line to look forward to, the month of October, quite frankly, is a bit of a downer.

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So, if you want to scare your parents as much as checking Canvas during this month scares you, tell them that the bulk of your midterms miraculously falls on the week right after Halloweekend Family Weekend. Instead of grabbing dinner with your parents, you’ll unfortunately be stuck in Lamont on Friday and Saturday night being an academic weapon (you poor, poor thing). Bonus points if they get so scared that they buy you pity study snacks you’ll inevitably eat in your dorm at 2 a.m. with your friends.

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2. Cancel on breakfast plans and take them to the dhall instead

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Due to your long, long night of studying, you may unfortunately wake up late and miss family breakfast. But before you freak out as you check your phone and see a dozen missed calls from your parents, think of the silver lining that has presented itself to you: the opportunity to introduce your parents to the finest brunch on this side of the river. Yup, you guessed it, HUDS. As you give them a tour of our exquisite selection of fresh berries (...oh wait) and chicken options that are never slightly pink on the inside, make sure to stop by the Oatly machine to show them what a nutritious diet you have!

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3. Give them a room tour

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Once you finish up in the dhall, be a good child and invite your parents over to your suite. After all, since Harvard is your home away from home, it’s only natural for your parents to be curious about how you’ve utilized your dorm space. Make sure to show them your unmade bed, overpriced cans of Celsius that you bought at CVS during an especially vulnerable evening, and your laundry hamper that is definitely not overflowing with dirty clothes. Bonus points if the Halloween costume that you did not wear the night before is lying on the ground, or if your mother sighs or shakes her head at you at any point during the tour.

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4. Celebrate Harvard’s victory over Princeton

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What better way to spend quality time with your family than at the Harvard v. Princeton football game. You can shock your parents with how much school spirit Harvard students have as they check the score maybe one time from Lamont and say, “Oh, cool I guess.” You’ll make family memories that will last a lifetime and get mentioned at every Thanksgiving to come.

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While Halloweekend x Family Weekend may seem daunting at first, these tips are sure to make your experience all the more enjoyable. No matter what happened between Thursday and Sunday, what will remain true is the love your family has for you. So just sit back and enjoy the spooky ride.

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{shortcode-40afeb810cbca3a7e903acbb053425ec1b03504c}In an ideal world, Family Weekend would be the perfect opportunity for my parents to recognize my newfound maturity as they witness me navigate campus and student life with ease. Instead, they’ll arrive on campus to find me in a state of derangement induced by the three midterms that magically chose to schedule themselves on the first two days of Family Weekend (awfully convenient timing, universe). As much as I would like to spend time with them this Family Weekend (and will during the weekend portion of it), I will desperately need my privacy to study (and cry), so I’ve started brainstorming places to deposit them while I face my academic strife. In the interest of not gatekeeping, here are the places at the top of my list.

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Your Room

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I mean, it’s your room, so you make the rules. No one can tell you not to leave your parents unsupervised in your dorm room for extended periods of time… except the housing contract. And maybe your conscience. This Family Weekend, your parents can walk a mile in your shoes (read: pace back and forth in the jail cell you call home) and experience your living conditions firsthand. If Family Weekend is about parents “learn[ing] all that Harvard has to offer,” I can think of no better place to start than the living accommodations. However, you will need to dedicate some time before your parents arrive to sanitizing organizing your room, lest your parents find contraband spend the rest of the weekend questioning your ability to function.

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Your House Courtyard

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If you’d rather not leave the fam unsupervised in your room, consider depositing them in your House’s courtyard. Since many of the House courtyards require swipe access to leave (why), they’re incredibly secure, meaning that your parents won’t be able to escape will stay safe. We might be screenagers, but our parents’ childhoods were iPad-less and very focused on the outdoors, if my mother is to be believed. Sitting on the manicured lawn at the center of your House will allow them to reconnect with nature and reminisce about their younger days. If the weather is warm, they’ll have the perfect opportunity to enjoy the end result of the gazillion chemical treatments Harvard sprays on its grass. If it’s cold, they might be less inclined to romanticize campus, but you can use that to your advantage; after feeling the chill, they’ll be much more receptive to your arguments about your caffeine needs if you insist that you use the drinks as hand warmers.

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One of the Libraries

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Many campus libraries will allow parents to visit — even unaccompanied! — provided they come with their Family Weekend buttons pinned to their chests. (The same goes for the on-campus museums and gyms.) So drop your parents off and then, like, leave. At a run. (If I’m roped into providing a comprehensive tour of my reading period bunker, I might spontaneously combust. Never good when surrounded by flammable materials.) By design, libraries can occupy guests for several hours in a row, providing both distractions (i.e. books and computers) and basic amenities (i.e. restrooms and vending machines), but that honestly doesn’t matter much; my parents really just need a temperature-controlled space to find more motivational messages to spam me with on WhatsApp.

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Off Campus

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OK, you’re not leaving campus any time soon, but you can live vicariously through your parents. Boston and the rest of Massachusetts offer many attractions suitable for a day trip, especially if this is your family’s first time visiting and they haven’t yet visited the typical tourist haunts. From Cape Cod’s beaches and the historical monuments in the Charlestown Navy Yard, to food tours in the North End and a ridiculous number of museums, your parents will have ample opportunity to enjoy themselves (without you, unfortunately) once they leave the black hole of joy that is campus. (I love campus, actually. Truly. Totally.) However, if your parents are like mine, they will rely solely on you for recommendations and then will proceed to ignore 80 percent of them, so you might be better off devoting that time to studying for your midterm.

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Undefined

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Your parents are adults. So maybe, just maybe, it’s not on you to micromanage the hours you’ll have to spend away from them this Family Weekend. Let them explore! If the number of tourists is any indication, the Yard and the Science Center Plaza are enjoyable regardless of your familiarity with campus. Plus, your parents can try their hand at a new brand of Russian Roulette: seeing if the random people they greet in the Yard are other families of students or just another set of tourists.

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Your parents might be miffed at being unceremoniously abandoned in a corner of campus at first, but I’m sure they’ll come around eventually… most likely after you spend way too much time with them this weekend and thus doom yourself to the scariest of Sunday Scaries. No one said juggling parents and schoolwork was easy.

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{shortcode-9224a531147ef6964c2500747f043f8a4a24e3b6}Just as the air gets cooler, the leaves change to a golden brown color, and you finally unveil your sweater collection, you get the notification you least expect. And no, it’s not your ex breaking no contact. It’s your favorite app, Canvas: “Assignment Created - Midterm 1.” You look at your phone, stunned. It's midterm season? Already? You just finished decorating your dorm, and now this?

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You hope it’s a mistake – maybe even a glitch. But nope. There it is, in all its terrifying glory. But hey, no need to freak out. You tell yourself, I’ve totally got this. Right? (Spoiler: you don’t). Luckily, you have your favorite blog to help you prepare.

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Ask Past Students for “Advice”

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Start with the obvious: text everyone you know. It can’t hurt, can it? Obviously, others have taken the class before, sat through lectures, completed assignments, and still remember(?) the midterm. So it's fine to text your peers, studying for other classes, if they have any last-minute “advice” for you. After all, one little text to a Lamonster will do them a favor and give them a break from their hours-long study sesh. Hit them with the “Heyyy! You took Stat 110, right? ;)” and cross your fingers for a response.

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Avoid all Distractions

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In class, you were probably on your phone, scrolling through TikTok or “sneakily” checking group chats, praying no one notices how zoned out you are. That stops now. Throw your phone into the void that is the bottom of your backpack. Say no to grabbing boba with your friends (your bank account couldn’t handle it anyway). Ignore that Sidechat notification – Obama isn’t on campus. You need to focus, and distractions are your enemy. You're not just here to study; you're here to cram like your GPA depends on it (because it kind of does?).

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Calculate the Percentage

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It’s not worth that much of your final grade… probably. As you contemplate studying, remember that one midterm exam is just a chunk fraction of your grade, and you can make up your lost points by acing that final, showing up to lecture (starting now), and participating in sections from here on out. With that, you’ll be on the road to success in getting that A with a midterm grade that didn’t break you because you nailed everything else, hopefully. Realize that final grades are what count, no one sees what you got on that fall midterm of 2024, so don’t fret. It’s just 20 percent, chill.

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Face Reality

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Realistically, you are not retaining any information. You’ve got a mountain of readings to catch up on and you skimmed a Google document that hasn’t been opened since the second (maybe first?) week of class. Let’s face it — at this point, studying probably won’t make a difference. It’s too late to pull off some miracle, and stressing isn’t going to magically implant the information into your head. Don’t worry, you have so many more tests ahead of you to fail to pass. Maybe next time you’ll start studying before the night of?

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So, midterm season is here, and the harsh truth? It never really ends. Once one midterm is over, another is lurking right behind it, ready to ruin your weekend plans. Honestly, we wrote this article to procrastinate studying for our own midterms, so we totally get you. Sure, this one might feel like a setback to your winter arc, but hey, it’s all part of the journey (or so we tell ourselves).

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Let’s be real, though — maybe this blog post wasn’t as helpful as you hoped. No amount of last-minute advice will save you (or us) if you keep putting everything off until the night before. So, stop procrastinating, close this tab, and go actually study. Your GPA (and future self) will thank you.

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{shortcode-4266e13b5450c4c0cf104080f38c67b0692531ad}Head of the Charles: a weekend full of fun, energy, and excitement as we watch people of all ages compete for glory on the Charles River. There's a massive influx of people on campus, as I’m sure you felt this past weekend, with tourists from all over the globe coming to Cambridge and the greater Boston area to experience this famous event. However, in addition to attending to support the Crimson’s teams, I had another goal in mind: brand pop-ups. I love to try new things, especially for free, and if you didn’t know, the Head of the Charles is the perfect place to do that. Here’s a ranking of the items I received for attending:

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1. Barebell Hoodie

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My absolute favorite item I received this weekend was a beautiful white hoodie from Barebell Protein Bars. The material was of excellent quality, and the design is actually something I like to wear. Plus, it allowed me to wait to do laundry another day, so it’s a win-win all around.

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2. Barebell Hat

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Since my friend was not a hat person, I was also able to obtain a matching hat from the same vendor. It's a nice hat, perfect for bad hair days.

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3. Barebell Protein Bars

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I received 18 of these, a solid steal since 12 retail around $30. They’re actually pretty good. My favorite flavor thus far is cookie dough —it’s like candy disguised as a protein bar.

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4. 5 Cans of Reign Clean Energy Drinks

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I really liked the Reign stand. It was impressive with its two-story setup. I was able to secure five cans, which I will give out to my friends when they are in the trenches. Very happy to aid my friends in need.

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5. 22 Bags of Cheese Puffs

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Though they came in tiny bags and took up a lot of space in my bag, preventing me from obtaining other items, these cheese puffs were delicious.

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6. Five Gold Tea Bottles

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They have the same vibe as the Reign energy drinks, except they don’t have caffeine, which places them further down on my list.

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7. Barebell Stickers & Regin Hand Sanitizer

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They're nice but aren’t very exciting. They're the kind of items that end up tucked in a drawer somewhere.

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In summary, I was extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to go and experience this event. All of the brand booths I went to had immaculate setups and were incredibly generous in giving out free products. I am sure I will be stocked for the next few weeks going into midterms.

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{shortcode-25e184570622d379275ac7a9890eea32eefec011}Hello Harvard! My name is Maya, and I’m perfect. I hear a lot of you have been overwhelmed lately, and while I can’t relate to literally anything you’re going through, a lot of you have been asking what it’s like to be thriving, happy, and gorgeous every single day. Honestly, I’m really glad you asked. Growing up, I always felt like we didn’t have enough perfect role models to look up to. I want to change that. I think it’s really important to recognize that while some of us suffer from stress or anxiety, others of us suffer from success, and that’s okay, too. I just thought I would share a day in the life of the perfect Harvard student as a reminder that perfect people do exist, and we deserve to be seen and heard!

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6:30 a.m.: I wake up to my alarm. The tone plays only once, for one second, because I wake up at the very first ring.

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6:45 a.m.: I wear my clothes that were laid out the night before.

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6:47 a.m.: I take the dentist’s recommended two minutes to brush my teeth. I don’t get to have a skincare routine like you all do. Unfortunately, since I’ve never been stressed, I have perfect skin and hair every single day.

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7:00 a.m.: I walk into Lowell House dhall, where I make the difficult choice of choosing which one of my multiple friend groups I will sit with. Ultimately, I decide to split time between all seven groups, who equally demand my attention.

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7:15 a.m.: As I eat my well-balanced, nutritious meal, I get a “good morning my sunshine pookie bear” text from my 6’ 11”, basketball player boyfriend who is also a Rhodes Scholar. I don’t text him back, because he’s just another 6’ 11” athlete boy I’ll date for like a summer and leave when I’m bored. If I ever got bored. Which I don’t.

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7:30 a.m.: I go for a light, ten mile sprint around the Charles, avoiding the track coach who waits there every morning to try and recruit me for the team. People often ask how I have run ten miles for the last seven years without skipping a day. It’s simple: perseverance!

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8:30 a.m.: After showering in my spotless communal bathroom, I blow dry my hair in my 250-square-foot single.

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9:00 a.m.: I show up to my nine a.m. lecture, for which I have read every single reading, taken notes, and remembered the key points for at least one day in advance. I raise my hand no less than seven times and get called on each time to give a thoughtful response which incorporates my own opinions backed by several pieces of evidence from the readings and lectures, cited appropriately.

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10:15 a.m.: I decided to enjoy the sunshine until lunch. Me and my multicultural group of friends sit on the grass in the Yard and talk about social issues, life goals, and our friendship. We’re all wearing Harvard gear, representing our pride in the school and the community we share. This is all captured beautifully in a candid, laughing photo taken by Dean Khurana.

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12:00 p.m.: My boyfriend buys me food, and we share it on the steps of Widener. We walk back to Lowell, hand-in-hand, discussing our future and feminist ideals.

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1:30 p.m.: I go to my second class of the day, where I piggyback off of four ideas and raise my hand thirty seconds before class ends so I can keep everyone an extra ten minutes while I share a vaguely related anecdote.

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3:00 p.m.: I meet with my academic advisor. Once I clearly lay out my visions and goals, she tells me clear steps on how to organize my remaining semesters to achieve them. I’ve learned that help will always be given at Harvard to those who ask for it.

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4:00 p.m.: I call my mom and dad, who are extremely supportive of my philosophy concentration. They encourage me to take a semester off and travel through Europe so I can discover who I really am. They also inquire about my boyfriend, who they consider family at this point.

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5:00 p.m.: I go to my first club meeting of the day. I’m the president of four large clubs, so I stack the meetings back to back. (A lot of you have been asking how I manage so much, and my best advice is to try harder.)

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9:00 p.m.: Because I finish my psets and assignments ahead of time each week, I go out nearly every day. I get ready with the girls, taking deep breaths as I turn down most of the invites on my phone. I hate disappointing any one of my hundreds of friends!

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10:30 p.m.: Me and the girls get several perfectly posed photos for the Instagram story, hinting obviously that we’re in a final club without overtly specifying which one, although you can tell by the brick wall and the blurry guy walking in the back wearing a tie with the club insignia.

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11:59 p.m.: I head back to Lowell to get just seven hours of sleep before my busy day tomorrow!

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And just like that, I’ve survived another day of perfection. For those of you that are tired of being ugly and lonely, I highly recommend 1) doing better 2) improving and 3) succeeding if you’re looking for a place to start your journey. It’s really hard, and this life is definitely not as easy as it looks, but I highly encourage you to believe in yourself. You’re the only one who will!

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{shortcode-c4f216d444c8768c90e28c6fb7e09c9aeaba8a94}Sweet treats are a necessary part of life, throughout the good, the bad, and the in-between.

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Midterm went terribly? Sweet treat.

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You secured a thesis advisor? Sweet treat.

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You had a really mediocre date? Sweet treat.

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No matter the occasion, you always deserve a sweet treat. Here’s a little guide to finding a sweet treat for every mood, from yours truly. All of these places are in Harvard square or nearby, so you’ll never have to look too far ;)

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Feeling like romanticizing your life? Give an arm and a leg for L.A. Burdick's hot chocolate.

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Yes, I know it’s almost $7. But can you tell me it’s not worth it? No. Especially on a chilly day, this purely melted chocolate bar is life changing. But you can’t go wrong – if the cookie or some other chocolate delight calls your name, be my guest. I promise you’ll leave feeling like Rory Gilmore, ready to tackle whatever’s on your plate.

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Feeling down in the dumps? Stop by Union Square Donuts.

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I don’t have much rhyme or reason to this one. All I know is that one time I got rejected from not one, not two, but THREE jobs in one day, so I knew I definitely deserved a pick-me-up. Union Square Donuts just happened to be close by, but boy did it do the trick. That Boston Cream Donut really empathized with my rejection and put a smile on my taste buds, even if I was not.

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Feeling sleepy? Grab a latte with any type of sweetener.

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Sorry, I know this is unoriginal. We all know the cure for the ceaseless yawns is simply caffeine. But… don’t be too hard on yourself and get drip coffee (icky) or even Cold Brew (too harsh). That’s why a sweetened latte is perfect – gives the caffeine kick, but is still cute and YUMMY.

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I’m not even going to tell you where to get your latte from, because Harvard Square abounds with coffee shops, and most of them are pretty good. A notable mention, though, is Pavement’s Maple Latte.

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Feeling like you’re on top of the world? Head to Lizzy’s.

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I think this is the most underrated ice cream in the square. It’s WAY cheaper than J.P. Licks or Amorino, far away from the clamoring tourists, and you get way more bang for your buck. On top of that, the ice cream flavors are simply. So. Good. If you’re already having an amazing day, why not make it even better with some really good ice cream and a really good deal?

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Feeling ravenous for a late-night snack? Chip City.

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Wow, am I glad Chip City just opened in the Square. Craving an ooey-gooey classic chocolate chip cookie to fuel you for a long night in Lamonts ? Look no further. Insomnia also suffices, but I find their cookies a bit wimpy in comparison to Chip City

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And there you have it. Happy munching!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-c4f216d444c8768c90e28c6fb7e09c9aeaba8a94}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/21/004054_1373840.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=]>)])

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{shortcode-a7006b92759661ae0033d0653ee4b03718d1ec28}

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Dean of Students Thomas Dunne said a few days ago that we would have a Harvard-Yale tailgate “that is attractive to students and fun and feels like what they imagined Harvard-Yale to be, but it’s also safe.” Well, Flyby Blog has the scoop and he’s right! Here’s a look inside what this attractive tailgate will be like:

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Food: Grape Pizza for All

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We must share the experience that put HUDS on the map. Yale won’t be so smug about their “gourmet food” now.

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Drinks: You Think It Is Diet Coke But When You Press The Thing It’s Gross Sparkling Water Without Any Syrup In It

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Aw, man! It’s almost as disappointing as the game against Brown.

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Tents

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Silly students, tents are for camping, and that’s not allowed. What do you mean, it’s daytime? Look at the campus use rules!

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Alcohol!

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Hahahahahahahahahahahaha just kidding. If you’re really looking for a buzz, just save all the toppings from your pizza and wait. A few years should do the trick.

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Location

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You will need to swipe three times to get in. And no, it’s not a tap. A swipe. Then it will be a field with no cars in sight.

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Decorations

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Not chalk, that’s for sure.

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Who

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Any student (admission fee: $0) or alum (admission fee: $151 million).

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Special Guests

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Zuck is coming… and what’s this? He’s the linebacker?!

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Sponsors

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Truly Seltzer. (Come on, it’s literally veritas. How has this not happened?) Also Ken Griffin.

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When

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Right now! You’re missing it!

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So get excited! See you on the field!

', [ShortcodeImageGQL(key='{shortcode-a7006b92759661ae0033d0653ee4b03718d1ec28}', image_url='https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.thecrimson.com/photos/2024/10/17/213047_1373738.png', nofilm=False, pos='center', size='large', byline=True, quote=False, quotebyline=False, theme='light', caption=None, hovertext=None, contributors=, ]>)])

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{shortcode-a8c94ae6fd7c8b1082b1b6c2a826705c5a42391b}

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In case you didn’t receive a million emails about it, let us remind you: this weekend is Head of the Charles. In other words, 200,000 people will descend upon the Charles River to watch a bunch of high schoolers and college students, and professionals row row row their boats. Chaos will reign and Satan will be nigh. And by Satan we mean a lot of Vineyard Vines shorts. The only way to prepare is to prepare for the worst. Here’s how to get ready for the zombie apocalypse: a.k.a. Head of the Charles.

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Gather Provisions

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If you think you will need anything other than dhall food this weekend, get it now: stores will be swamped. Nowhere is safe. Hordes of scarf-wearing blonde women and the skinniest teenagers you’ve ever seen will cram the aisles of all retail establishments, leaving you no choice but to fight until you’re begging for surrender. Pick up your prescription now, not later.

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Figure Out Who You Can Trust

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High schoolers and people from lamer colleges than ours will be trying to force their way into any party happening between Friday and Sunday. If you and more than one friend are hanging out, they’ll be banging down the doors, begging for drinks instead of brains. Don’t let them win! Keep gatherings ~intimate~ and/or ~guarded~.

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Go on Group Raids

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Brands like to give out free stuff during Head of the Charles. You can take advantage of this if you have a strategy and an escape plan. Get in and get out; don’t get distracted by the action or mowed down by the swarms of people. Only examine your spoils once back in the safety of your dorm.

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Find High Ground

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If you want to watch the regatta, it’ll be difficult to see anything from the banks of the river unless you get there first thing in the morning. Luckily, dorms with river views have a great vantage point. Find a friend and post up in their common room. But don’t let anyone see you! (See point 2.)

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Don’t Try to Rationalize What’s Happening

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It’s actually scientifically impossible to understand how a regatta works, so don’t try. “It’s just a race,” you say. To which we say, “did you know they all start at different times?” How many miles is it? How many people are in a boat? Why is coxswain pronounced like that? Trying to comprehend what’s happening wastes valuable energy you could be spending cowering in fear.

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With these tips, you’ll be ready to survive the scariest weekend of the semester yet. But don’t get too comfortable: next weekend is Family Weekend…

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