The Observer, November 3, 2006
Volume XXXIX, Issue 9
Res hall "treats" local kids
On Halloween evening, the Murray Hill Hall Council (MHHC) welcomed groups of children from neighboring elementary schools to Case's campus for an evening of festivities.
Trick or Treat at Case, which entertained approximately 50 children from 10 area elementary schools this year, was originally hosted by the Village College Council last year.
After hearing about the fun and success of the event, the MHHC decided to repeat the event and increase the amount of activities.
Last year, trick or treating was provided in only one building, but this year MHHC organized a wide array of activities in several locations.
Upon registering, the children were escorted to TV time. After the tour guide arrived, the children were escorted to the different residence halls and participated in several activities including apple dipping, arts and crafts, storytelling, and face painting.
The participants also had the opportunity to walk through a haunted house, which amused the trick-or-treaters with witches, draculas, zombies, and mummies.
While most of the children enjoyed the haunted house, "a group of kids were too scared to continue after the first room," recalled Kimi Clarke, a volunteer in the haunted house.
After completing the other activities, the students were ushered into Fribley Commons for hot chocolate and popcorn.
With the increase of activities provided for the children, many of the parents expressed gratitude and surprise that MHHC went to such measures to entertain them.
Preparing for the event took hours of contacting schools, soliciting help, and decorating, but MHHC fulfilled its goal.
"We wanted to provide an opportunity for children in the area to have fun, since lots of children can't trick or treat in their neighborhood because it is unsafe or their neighbors don't give away candy," said Tiffany Liu, the vice president of Howe House.
Although MHHC organized the event, they had help from several student organizations including Alpha Phi Omega, who created and manned the haunted house, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Sigma Rho, Omega Tau Zeta, RHA General Body, USG, and the Emerging Leaders Program.
Additionally, Bon Appétit provided all of the food for the event.
Events such as Trick or Treat at Case yield several benefits. Besides enabling neighborhood children to visit Case's campus, they also improve relations between Case and its surrounding communities, while providing opportunities for Case students to become involved with people from the surrounding neighborhoods.
