By Emma Bradley
While many children walk from house to house every year on Halloween night, the tradition at Bethel is a little bit different. During the college’s annual “Trick-or-Treat Off the Street” event, children from the community and their parents are invited into the residence halls to trick-or-treat.
According to Amber Chalashtari, resident director of Voth Hall, the purpose of the event is to provide a safe environment for kids to go trick-or-treating.
“It creates a good relationship between the community and Bethel,” Chalashtari said.
Luminaries will be set up outside of Haury Hall, Voth Hall, and Warkentin Court as a signal to community members which buildings are open for trick-or-treaters. Individual rooms with students who will hand out candy will be marked with a pumpkin on the door, while mods will be marked with luminaries.
Students who desire to participate in handing out candy should contact their resident assistant or resident director to sign up.
Students who choose not to hand out candy from their own room are welcome to help with carnival games that will be held in the lounges of each residence hall. If students wish to help with running the carnival games, they should again contact an RA or RD.
According to Chalashtari, the carnival games are a way of “giving community members another chance to do things in the residence halls.” In addition, Chalashtari said the carnival games are important because Haury and Voth Hall can be tricky to navigate, but lounges are easily accessible locations for community members.
Participating students are encouraged to decorate their doors and dress up in Halloween costumes. However, Brittney Roden, resident director of Haury Hall, noted students should make sure to wear appropriate costumes and eliminate any inappropriate messages from white boards. Roden added that she hopes a lot of residents will get involved in the event.
