Zach Maxwell
Staff writer
Shearer Hall and North Hall will once again host “Safe Trick or Treat” on Halloween night from 6-8 p.m.
Jamey Keffer, hall director for Shearer and North halls and an adjunct professor, said the event draws upwards of 1,000 people. Residents at Shearer Hall will welcome trick-or-treaters, while North Hall residents will have their building set up as a haunted house.
“We have student actors who will do various things. It’s really cool,” said Keffer. “The haunted house changes every year. The students who live there come up with something new because inevitably it’s new freshmen living there.”
Safe Trick or Treat has become something of a tradition on Fourth Street. It has been going on for nearly a decade, Keffer said.
“It’s a safe place to be, and it gives residents and other students an opportunity to participate,” she said. “Groups participate in different ways, and set up takes half a day to three-quarters of the day. It’s a fun and well-attended event. Everybody has a lot of fun.”
She advised children participating in the event to “bring a big bag.”
Besides the hall residents and their governing Residence Hall Association, participating student groups include President’s Leadership Class, “Freshman and Residents Successful Together,” the Honors community, Chemistry Club, Native American Student Association and various fraternities and sororities.
The Office for Student Life released the following guidelines for groups wishing to participate in Safe Trick or Treat. Please contact 745-3197 by 5 p.m. Friday for a participant form.
Set Up: Tables should be set up on the day of the event by 5:15 p.m., but earlier is recommended so groups will have more time to interact with families and guests. The event will be from 6-8 p.m. with 30-45 minutes of cleanup time afterward.
Booth Ideas: Tables should be inviting and show the spirit of participating groups. Suggestions include colorful displays, games, informative handouts and of course friendly people. Candy giveaways and kid-friendly carnival games such as bobbing for apples, bean bag toss and floating duck games, are some ideas.
Be creative and have fun. Costumes are not required but could make your table more memorable.