Nightmare for charity

The buzz of a chainsaw sent students running and screaming from the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity haunted house Wednesday.

Philanthropy Chairman Dan Vought said the fraternity has hosted the haunted attraction at their house for more than 25 years.

Kappa Delta sorority member Aly Tennant said the sorority also helped with the event by donating time and working inside the haunted house.

The proceeds were donated to charities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware County and Prevent Child Abuse America, Tennant said.

Vought said he was happy to help local charities any way he and the fraternity could.

"It's a really good cause, and we get to have fun doing it," he said.

More than 300 students attended the attraction, bringing in more than $1,500 before the end of Halloween night, he said.

"We were really happy with the turnout," Vought said.

Sophomore speech pathology major Amy Cleeter ran out of the house and away from a man who was chasing her with a chainsaw.

"It was a lot more scary than I thought it would be," Cleeter said. "I was impressed."

The haunted house's themed rooms included clowns and "Friday the 13th" character, Jason.

Muncie resident Ashley Popplewell said the "Jason room" was the scariest part.

"There were like 15 Jasons and you couldn't tell which ones were real and which ones were fake," she said.

Vought said the haunting at Sigma Phi Epsilon will end after next year's Halloween attraction.

"We are moving to a new house down the street, and we can't run the haunted house there because of rules," he said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and Kappa Delta sorority scare students to raise money for children