Ghosting: Not Just For Spooky Spirits

“Between midterms, ASG–heck even the election! I just don’t see how anyone could have the time anymore.” Junior Tanya Sperling hardly looked up from her laptop while her roommates sat around her cheerfully carving pumpkins. “Plus, I just spent all the rest of my money buying merch at the Saint Pablo Tour, so I can’t even go online and buy something! That’s why I texted whatshisname, uh… Jake? Poor kid responded in a heartbeat.”

Outpacing even insensitive Harambe costumes, it looks like this Halloween’s go-to getup is a high-tech take on an old school classic. Short on time and strapped for cash, Northwestern students are ‘ghosting’ their peers–sans bedsheet.

“It’s like when you’re texting somebody, but then you stop completely and hope they just ‘get it,’” said senior Ryan Nguyen. “I mean, I’m not even going to be in town on the 31st, but I didn't want to miss out on the Halloween spirit, you know?” In lieu of dressing up, Nguyen exercised his creative side by sending sophomore Ana Powell a message on Canvas. “I didn’t have her number, and we weren’t friends on Facebook, so I decided to try something new. I think she’s replied like 5 times, so I’d call that a success.”

Of their tête-à-tête, Powell added, “[Nguyen]’s a really sweet guy, he even helped me with our anthropology homework one time. I think he’s just really busy this week is all, and I’d text him directly but I don’t have his number. Right now I’m just hoping his schedule clears up by the 31st, because he said he had something really special planned.”