Transylvania University’s Student Activities Board is channeling the spirit of the season for a lineup of hauntingly fun Raf Week events through Thursday.
In honor of 19th-century naturalist Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, the celebration kicked off Sunday night with a Theater Guild tribute to the eccentric Transylvania professor himself. Other events include tonight’s Fall Festival and Wednesday’s Haunted Hallway.
“Raf Week is one of our biggest weeks,” said Meredith Judy ’26, SAB vice president of marketing. It’s a good way for her group to get students engaged in campus life by taking advantage of the school’s storied past — something Pioneers say is important. “Quite a few of them said part of the reason they came to Transylvania was because of its history and traditions,” she continued.
Rafinesque taught botany and natural history at Transylvania from 1819-26, hightailing it out of Lexington after a spat with the president (supposedly leaving a curse in his wake).
Today, his spirit lingers fondly. For instance, the university mascot is named after Rafinesque’s big-eared bat, and the Rafskeller is a popular eatery. Raf Week falls between his Oct. 22 birthday and Halloween.
This year’s festivities also included Monday’s Pumpkins and Palettes, as Pioneers painted gourds and sipped mocktails. Tonight’s Fall Festival runs 6-8 p.m. in Back Circle (Campus Center if it rains) — think trick-or-treating with a carnival twist. Student organizations are staffing tables to boost their visibility and hand out candy, and there will be games, prizes and a costume contest. It’s like past years’ trick-or-treating, but with added activities. “We just tried to amp it up,” Judy said. She gave a shout-out to adviser Ryan Benjamin, associate dean of students and Campus Center director, for weaving in more cross-campus collaborations for Raf Week.
Wednesday brings SAB’s signature Haunted Hallway from 8-10 p.m. in the Poole basement. “That’s one of our signature events,” Judy added. SAB conjured up a hotel theme this year, complete with a creepy bellhop and maid lurking in the shadows.
Raf Week wraps up Thursday with Candy Apple Nachos from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Campus Center foyer. Students can load sliced apples with toppings and pair them with a Bon Appétit cider bar.
Pioneers can scan their Crimson Cards at each event to enter a raffle for a night’s stay in Raf’s tomb with a friend or a free Brinner pass.
From crafting to the haunted house to festival games, SAB has lined up Raf Week events that are both fun and nostalgic for students. “That brings us together as a campus,” Judy said.