This is the 500th post for The Quad. We’ve been sharing the good news of the University of Illinois for over two years since our first post on May 15th, 2007. We’ve seen the removal of Chief Illiniwek, an Illinois Football Rose Bowl visit, multiple Facebook redesigns, an impeached Governor, and one of the most historic presidential elections in modern history Through it all, we’ve been here, with you. We’d like to thank you, our readers, for suporting us throughout the years.

At this time, it is our pleasure to announce that The Quad has recently become an official Registered Student Organization (RSO) at the University of Illinois. It is our hope, as an organization, to bring new writers, editors, and designers to our team. We’d like to create a news source that spans the many disciplines and lifestyles of Illinois’ students.

Nothing you see here will change dramatically, we will still be providing you with the latest Illinois news. Any changes will only be an improvement. Our coverage will improve as we add more writers and editors from all walks of life. We will be on the ground running during the Fall 2009 semester.

Please continue to stay tuned and look out on campus for more information on our new endeavers.

Thanks again for the support, and Go Illini!

It’s that time of the year again. Halloween. The day where it’s ok to come to class dressed as a pirate. This yearly festival is celebrated internationally with trick-or-treating, haunted houses, costume parties, jack-o-lanterns, scary movies, and the largest gross of candy of the year. Whether you like it or not, this holiday will take over the day. This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, which makes it very appealing to students. Many students choose to come to class in a costume, while many choose not to come to class at all.

If you haven’t gotten your costume already, there is still time. For those of you that are completely out of ideas, or refuse to spend money on your costumes, check out this article for cheap and easy costume ideas. One of the most popular this year will obviously be “The Joker” and my personal favorite “college student” which only requires a hoodie. Feel free to share your costume ideas with us by posting a reply to this article. If you are looking for a trend, here are the expected top ten costumes for 2008:

10. Angel
9. Ghost
8. Political (McCain, Obama, Palin)
7. Batman
6. Nurse
5. Fairy
4. Cat
3. Vampire
2. Pirate
1. Witch

According to the National Retail Federation’s 2008 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions survey, conducted by BIGresearch, total Halloween spending for 2008 is estimated to reach $5.77 billion. And it’s not just for the tykes. An estimated 51.8 million adults plan to sport some sort of costume for the big night.

However you decide to celebrate, be safe. Halloween should be a night of fun and festivities. As Scooby Doo once said: “We don’t go anywhere with ’scary’, ’spooky’, ‘haunted’, or ‘forbidden’ in the title.” Seriously, be safe and have fun.

Happy Halloween!

Editor’s Note: Due to recent events surrounding Halloween celebrations, The Quad would like to reiterate the words of Interim Police Chief Jeff Christensen: “No matter where you are, we advise you to always be aware of your surroundings and to immediately report any suspicious activity to the police. If you are celebrating Halloween by wearing a costume, you absolutely should NOT carry any type of replica, toy or fake weapon.”