Towers Complex hosts third annual Halloween celebration

Kathi Walker / The Bulletin

Laura Dassett, freshman theater major, passes out candy to another Dorothy look-alike Wednesday night during the Towers Complex Trick-or-Treat event. Trick-or-Treat in the Dorms gives parents a safe place to bring their children to go trick-or-treating and the children a chance to fill up on candy.

Monkeys, linebackers, cowboys, Clone Troopers and Harry Potter were all among costumes sported Tuesday night at the Towers Complex annual Trick-or-Treat celebration. Students signed up in advance to pass out candy to visiting families, dressed up in costumes and played games with the children.

“It’s really important for college students, to involve them in the community,” said Katie Anderson, junior elementary education major and resident assistant in South Tower.

The Towers Complex has hosted a Halloween activity for the past three years, and this year’s was estimated to be their biggest. Drew Jahr, Towers Complex and residential life coordinator, estimated that 100 children came before the activity was half over. Jahr wore an authentic Jamaican dreadlock hat, along with a colored shirt and tie.

According to Jahr, it is more rewarding than fun and after a few years of experience, they have organized the set up efficiently so that it only takes five or six hours to make all the arrangements. According to Jahr, it is “down to a system.”

For parents, the option of having their children Trick-or-Treat in the residence halls is a safe alternative to door-to-door trick or treating, especially in a neighborhood of strangers.

“We live in an older neighborhood and it’s harder because a lot of people don’t do Halloween,” said Keely Persinger, director of the Center for Early Childhood Education.

Persinger said her daughter preferred the trick-or-treating at the Towers because it was inside, and warmer than going door-to-door.

This year, the children and their parents visited each of the floors in groups, going door to door to the sound of the Monster Mash.

Persinger estimated that more college students had turned out this year than last year, which is hopefully a good indicator of next year’s attendance. She also thought that being in a group was not quite as enjoyable as going about the rounds independently and thought the sizing of the groups was an important factor to remember.

Other activities included coloring sheets, face painting and bean bag toss.

Overall, the students who signed up to pass out the candy felt that they had an opportunity to give back to the community in a fun and rewarding manner.

“My favorite part is getting to see all the kids dressed up and having fun,” Anderson said.