Halloween came a week early for East Lansing children Thursday night, as MSU fraternities and sororities provided their own brand of tricks and treats for the community.
The 10th annual Safe Halloween event was held from 5-7 p.m. between Burcham Drive and Elizabeth Street on M.A.C. Avenue. The event was sponsored by the MSU Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils, and involved about 2,000 children and 2,000 greeks, according to Lawrence Reichle, co-director of Safe Halloween and a physiology senior.
The Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council are MSU’s governing body of sororities and fraternities, respectively.
Allison Drompp, Panhellenic Council vice president for external relations, said the purpose of the event was to provide East Lansing children with a safe alternative to trick-or-treating, and to strengthen the relationship between MSU’s greek community and East Lansing.
“This event is a great way for the greek community to connect to the greater East Lansing community and be a part of our community by doing something for the children of East Lansing,” the English senior said.
Other sponsors of Safe Halloween included ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government; Starbucks; the MSU Computer Store and Quality Dairy.
Streets were blocked off as members of MSU’s fraternities and sororities handed out candy to costumed children who went trick-or-treating. Other activities included a costume contest, pumpkin painting, face painting, cookie decorating, mummy wrapping and a moon jump.
Reichle said the event helps to build bridges between residents and the greek communities.
“As opposed to our stereotype of drinking and partying, this event shows that there’s more to us than what people think,” he said.
Many of the members of MSU’s fraternities and sororities saw it as a great chance to have some fun with kids in the community. Hospitality business and real estate senior Anna Christian has been a Sigma Kappa member for four years, and has participated in Safe Halloween every year.
“Just the amount of kids here is the best,” she said. “Since you’re at college, you’re with everyone your own age (Safe Halloween) makes you feel like you’re at home a little bit more. There’s parents, there’s old people, there’s young people walking around, so it’s nice.”
This year was the first time East Lansing resident Terese Walsh brought her 6-year-old son Adam to Safe Halloween.
“(The kids) like to put their costumes on and it’s nice to do it when it’s light out, with the roads blocked off,” she said. “The best thing is just having student involvement with the community.”
Walsh added that the event has other advantages besides a safe environment and stronger community relations.
“Playing football with the college guys is enough to divert them from candy for a while,” she said.
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