The Collegian

Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Zack Farmer

Trick or treat?

This familiar refrain echoed across Saint Mary's College last Friday, as children from all over the Bay Area descended on the campus for the ninth-annual Halloween Party -4- Kids. Armed with goody-bags, the kids trekked across the freshman dorms for frightful sights and tasty sweets. None left empty handed. On the way, they were kept under the watchful eye of student volunteers.

Alex Bettencourt '09, a student escort, described her experience with the kids as "very rewarding." For her, "seeing them get so excited" about the event made it worthwhile.

Indeed, the kids were full of energy as they willingly climbed several flights of stairs to get their candy. While their costumes varied from Spiderman to pirates, the kids seemed right at home collecting candy.

"There's no such thing as too much candy," Bettencourt assured her group of kids.

From Aquinas Hall to Madigan Gym, the campus transformed to meet the occasion. Spiderwebs hung on the dorm walls while echoes of Michael Jackson's Thriller could be heard in the distance. But Assumption Hall underwent the largest change-its lounge became a haunted house, complete with creepy inhabitants. Those who dared to enter the area were met by all sorts of ghastly sights, including maniacal pirates and a zombie emerging from a clothes dryer.

For some younger children, the idea of the haunted house was a little too scary and they refused to enter. But many, including Chris, eight, decided to venture in. The frightful lounge certainly had an effect-"It was freaky," Chris said of the experience.

Madigan Gym was the central point of the event, as the kids filed in for a night of games and activities. The games included theme related contests like Mummy Bowling, Ring around the Witches' Hat, and Knock Down the jack-o-lantern. Kids could also have their face painted or get a dinosaur tattoo. As the event went on, Madigan continued to swell as more people filed in to join the fun.

Many students dressed for the occasion. The different costumes included gypsies and even Shrek. These costumed helpers aided the kids as they move through the event's different activities. But while not everyone was in costume, there was a feeling of admiration towards the kids.

"Watching them having fun and laughing," was the highlight of working with them, said Ben Petrofsky '09.

The last part of the evening included a coordinated routine by the Pulses dance team. While the team experienced some technical problems with their music, they were able to pull out an impressive routine for the crowd. Several of the older children decided to take a shot at freestyle dancing before the audience, and their efforts were met with applause.

The event went well as it left both kids and students satisfied. "It was tons of fun," said Moodi Marroquin '08. But for Milton, five, there was one thing that stood out the most-"getting the candy!"

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