Yesterday, a mass of over a thousand students gathered in Red Square and marched across campus in protest of the University of Washington’s recent decision to open a Spirit Halloween store in the basement of the Art Building. This controversial venture has started production less than a year after the University closed down its very own Parnassus Café, which had been universally loved by students for over 70 years, and, until recently, had also been the oldest standing coffee shop in Seattle.

Today, several students are on guard outside the Art Building, blocking anyone from entry. Among these is Iman Vakil, a recent UW graduate with a bachelor’s in art history.

“Parnassus was my favorite place to study,” says Vakil. “I used to purchase a single cup of black drip coffee every day, put on some Deftones, then write about Francisco Goya and the horrors of the Spanish War of Independence. It was always a really lovely time.”

“I didn’t really like their coffee, but Parnassus was the best place to pick up girls with shaggy mullets and septum piercings,” says junior Caleb Longhorn, also standing guard. “Now I have to go back to Hinge.”

Leah Jurado, a freshman, says that she disagrees with those protesting.

“I mean, I wasn’t really here when Parnassus was still around, so I guess I just don’t get the hype? Also, Spirit Halloween is really cool. You can get a zombie baby animatronic there for, like, 40 bucks,” says Jurado. “You can walk two minutes and find another place to get a coffee on campus. But where else am I supposed to find a zombie baby animatronic?”

On Friday, the UW released a statement outlining their plans to have the Spirit Halloween up and running by October 27th, just in time for prime Halloween shopping.

When asked to elaborate on her vision for the project, President Ana Mari Cauce responded, “I’ve just always loved Halloween. I used to dress up as a creepy little ghoul every year and walk around going, "Nye-he-he-he!" But last year Mindy Kornberg emailed me begging me to stop. Spirit Halloween is the one place where I feel I can be my spooky, devilish self. The wonder, the horror, the novelty - I mean, where else can you find a zombie baby animatronic for under $50? Those things can get expensive. I really felt that this is what the University of Washington student experience was missing.”

The University did not respond to our questions regarding the project’s cost or on their plans for the vacant space after October 31st.