The Austin Peay College Democrats have been awarded a national health care reform grant by the College Democrats of America Alumni Association (CDAAA). Over a dozen school chapters submitted proposals to advocate health care reform in a national application process, resulting in the selection of four College Democrat chapters for the honor. Choosing to submit their proposal around APSU’s annual Greater Halloween Options for Safe Trick-or-Treating (G.H.O.S.T.) event, the student organization won a national runoff vote held to determine the final grant winner.

“After tallying the votes – and weeding out some less-than-scrupulous individuals who tried to vote early and often – one school emerged as the clear winner: Austin Peay State University in Tennessee.” Alex Cornell du Houx, a Maine state representative and member of the CDAAA Board of Directors, said in announcing the winner of the runoff vote. “In addition to Austin Peay, we couldn’t be more excited to award health care action grants to College Dems chapters at Florida International University, Georgetown University and the University of Wyoming. The grant applications we received show just how excited College Dems across the country are to organize for health care reform.”

Andrew Lewis, President of the Austin Peay College Democrats, had this to say upon being notified of the award: “To be selected for this grant by national election is truly an honor, not just for our chapter, but for Austin Peay State University and the great state of Tennessee. As college students, we look to build on this accolade by continuing to lead the charge for progressive health care reform.”

Echoing the sentiment was Adam Haynes, President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats, saying: “The state federation is very proud of the work of all of our chapters in working on healthcare reform. APSU winning this grant shows that this chapter is setting itself to be a leader on this and many issues. I am glad that CDAAA recognized the potential that Austin Peay and the TFCD has to be true leaders on a range of issues.”

About Austin Peay College Democrats

Through promoting the ideals and beliefs of the Democratic Party, the mission of the Austin Peay College Democrats is to unite progressive students on the Austin Peay State University campus to encourage activism and foster interest in government and politics.

A ghastly, undead creature haunts one of APSU's bowls, demonstrating the mechanical and creative ingenuity of APSU students.

G.H.O.S.T. hosted creepy thrills and a fun night full of treats without tricks. Austin Peay State University student organizations and departments opened the campus to the community to give parents, and children the chance to have a safe time while trick or treating. Students stood in the twilight hours of the fading October sun, dressed in various costumes with spectacular organizational displays.

Some organizations such as the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), and Chi Epsilon Mu had costume themes. Those two groups chose vampires and pirates, respectively. Chi Epsilon Mu won the first place prize for their two-story pirate ship playhouse display, allowing members to man the tables, and the vessel in true ship-man teamwork.

G.H.O.S.T., a long-stranding tradition at Austin Peay State University, stands for Greater Halloween Options for Safe Trick or Treating, and is presented annually by the SGA on the last Sunday before Halloween between the hours of 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Ahoy Mateys! Chi Epsilon Mu took home first place for their pirate playhouse again this year.

APSU has been offering G.H.O.S.T. since the program’s inception in 1996, and ever since participation has been growing and growing. And the twelfth annual G.H.O.S.T. this past Sunday was no exception according to APSU SGA Adviser Greg Singleton.

Student groups start setting up an hour early, but the advance preparation far exceeds that. Many groups with new members who have not done the event before may have to make candy runs, or borrow candy from another group. For the first time in five years, the GSA almost completed the candy giving until near the very end of the event even with an emergency candy run; it took just over twenty-four bags of candy.

Singleton, who has been acting adviser since 2007,  said, “This was probably one of the years that has the most attendance based upon feedback we received from student set up boxes for the children. We know for a fact almost 2,000 people were here yesterday, including 1,600 children because we distributed over 1,600 books.”

GSAers James Butler and Melinda Aceae pose for the camera. Melinda created the coffin the group used to house the Pumpkinhead body stuffed with candy.

There have been no incidents at G.H.O.S.T. as Singleton stated public safety patrols the area, which is filled with staff members and students.

When asked what G.H.O.S.T. brings to the community table in the overwhelming success of the program, Singleton said, “I think it provides children an environment to have safe trick or treating in a safe atmosphere. Our campus provides services to the community where children can go and it’s in a safe, controlled environment.”

For APSU student organizations who wish to participate, they must fill out a G.H.O.S.T. registration packet, that now appears on the website in the Fall semester. Only the second year that the forms have been provided online, the G.H.O.S.T. packets are available at the following URL: http://www.apsu.edu/sga/, and must be returned by the SGA deadline to the Office of Student Affairs.

Avast! Yo-ho! A different kind of Halloween celebration will take place at the Morgan University Center Plaza at  Austin Peay State University Sunday, October 26, from 4-7 p.m.,  when the Student Government Association sponsors G.H.O.S.T., an annual spooky day event where area children are encouraged to don their costumes and visit organization-sponsored booths for some non-traditional treats without the tricks. This year’s event has a pirate theme, so be prepared from swash-buckling fun and games.

Halloween treats come in the form of books. The APSU Women’s Club will be near the Phi Kappa Phi table, the best table every year at passing out books for children in the community.  The APSU Women’s Club will be passing out bookmarks to accompany these books.

Del Square Psi (Physics and Astronomy Club) and XEM (Chemistry Club) has interesting projects for the kids to look at and fun games to play.

Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity will again have a table at the event.  Chi Omega always has interesting things for the children and keep them entertained.

For more information, contact Student Government Association, (931) 221-7262.