Students can open their doors to celebrate Halloween with the surrounding community.
Officials will host the 16th annual Trick-or-Treat Night from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 29 in Walker Hall dormitory.
During the event, children from the surrounding community will parade through the halls, showing off their costumes and collecting candy.
The university and surrounding businesses provide Halloween decorations and candy for students to use if they choose.
Mary Brewer, resident director of Walker Hall, said student participation is optional.
“It’s a nice way to open up and advertise our university to the public,” Brewer said. “It’s also fun for the residents, who may be celebrating Halloween away from home for the first time.”
Each year, 100-200 children trick-or-treat in the dorm, and bring along their relatives.
Students also dress up and eat candy, though Brewer said she stresses the event should target younger children.
Most of the student participation comes from residents decorating their rooms and passing out candy from there, Brewer said.
Any OCU student is allowed to help decorate, tear down and pass out candy.
The event is considered a community service project, so participating student may receive service hours upon request.
Students said they enjoy the event.
“My roommate and I went to Wal-mart and bought Winnie the Pooh Halloween decorations,” said Marissa Froneberger, vocal performance sophomore. “I was doing my homework with the door open and cute kids came in and ate candy. It was fun.”
Officials will send out fliers to area schools and businesses, to advertise the event as a safe place to trick-or-treat to help attract visitors.
The university will also provide fruit, as a healthy snack option and substitute for the children who cannot have candy.
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