Two Boston University girls almost peed their pants last night as they walked through the Sargent Activities Center gym, now transformed into a haunted house.
The girls and others were guided through a darkened maze while cloaked figures jumped out from around corners and behind drapes, writhing along the floors and reaching out for victims' limbs.
A masked man with a chainsaw lunged at the unsuspecting students, chasing them outside, where students were given free energy drinks.
BU's Chi Phi fraternity hosted the haunted house to celebrate Halloween and raise money for the Jimmy Fund, an organization that helps aid the fight against childhood cancer.
The frat has hosted the haunted house at its house in Allston in previous years, but this year secured $1,600 of funding from the Allocations Board to hold it in the gym. By the end of the ghoulish night, more than 130 students had been thoroughly spooked, raising $685, the most in the group's haunted history.
While Chi Phi Social Chairman Geraud Gonzales said he had hoped to attract at least 500 visitors, brother Jon Thibault said the night was a huge success, partially thanks to the financial boost.
"BU really helped out a lot," the College of Arts and Sciences junior said. "It was really awesome of them."
The fact that the proceeds went to the Jimmy Fund made the $5 cover charge worth it, said Maia Kallen, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore who dressed as a pirate.
"You always get your money's worth when it's a charity," said Gonzales, a College of General Studies sophomore.
The fraternity has worked with the fund for years, said brother Nick Keeney, a College of Engineering sophomore.
"[The organization] hits close to home," Gonzales said. "A lot of the brothers have family members who have been affected by cancer."
CAS sophomore Lauren Alba said the haunted house was fun, though it had its share of frightening moments.
"Doing the philanthropy thing [makes me feel good]," she said.
Other spectators were not as impressed by the supposedly frightening house.
Metropolitan College sophomore Gregg Meinstein said the haunted house was "weak."
"It wasn't dark enough," he said. "They need to put black lights up."
Yang-Sheng Tham, a CGS sophomore who dressed as a "female body inspector," or FBI agent, said he felt "misled" and "a little gipped" by the house.
Programming Council held a Halloween Masquerade Ball last weekend that drew only about 100 students, despite 30 free iPod Touches raffled off throughout the night.
Angela Marie Latona contributed reporting for this article.
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