The IITS department dunked themselves into the cauldron of Halloween spirit with a potions 101 class theme this year where each of the members dressed up as witches and warlocks with an academic twist.
Hussam Kashou, Associate Dean of Online Learning, was also dressed in all black attire complete with rings and a multicolored mask.
“I think it’s really great, it’s very detailed, creative. We brought in different themes, we also brought in like a, educational theme to it where we actually have a classroom and we’re using the technologies that we have in the institution but with a Halloween theme,” Kashou said.
The department office was covered from ceiling to floor with decor that displayed potion bottles, old books, and a course plan of the potions 101 class assignments and expectations displayed through a projection on a flat screen.
“This is a Potions 101 classroom. We have a learning management system with a class description. We have students, we have even the crystal ball for online students that are portaling in, we have all the concepts that we do with technology in our college, because we are the technology help services department, so we kinda brought that into our design,” Kashou explained.
Help Desk Support Specialist Jonathan Tejada shared his enthusiasm for the office decorations and theme.
“I would probably say about a solid week. A lot of this is down to Mayra and Laura. As I’ve mentioned already, they are the cornerstone of the life blood of this entire thing and without them this would have definitely not been possible,” Tejada shared.
Tejada was dressed up as a student warlock for the potions 101 class theme. His costume consisted of a black dress shirt, black slacks, black dress shoes and a chain link necklace complete with a black curly haired wig.
Project Manager for Educational and Multimedia Technology Mayra Aguilar was dressed in all black, a witch hat with spider covered lace that draped down from the brim, complete with a multicolored cape.
Aguilar said their department started decorating around 2015. They had a shelf apart of the theme where she took pictures of the IITS department members’ heads and put them in jars that were displayed on the shelf.
“What was cool is that, it’s like, everyone gets involved. Everybody puts in like, you know, their part of it. Not everybody, but at least people that wanna like, participate,” Aguilar said.
Almost every inch of office space was utilized with witchy details. A velvet cloth draped table was covered in candles and potion bottles that featured a photograph of the departments current staff members dressed as witches in a black and white photo to match the overall theme.
A door a few steps away from the entrance invited a projection of a witch that played against a 3D model screen where she sang songs with background music and spoke witchy voice lines to set the atmosphere.
Members of the IITS department shared their excitement for the holiday and talked about how much it means to take part and dress up during Halloween.
“I’m very happy,” Tejada exclaimed.
“This is me in my element, I love this… I love the idea that like, our entire department kind of gets behind it and enjoys the revelry and we kinda go and check out the different areas that are also participating. This is awesome, this is such a cool day to see everyone get into the spirit of Halloween.”
“It just goes back to just you know even from being a kid, it’s just like the one day a year that you can be like anything, anyone you wanna be,” Mayra expressed.