OC hosts safe trick-or-treat night in dormitories

Photo by Abby Bellow

 

Children dressed in costumes roamed the crowded halls, going door to door in search of candy. Parents followed closely behind, reminiscing about college days.

For years now, Oklahoma Christian University has held their own version of trick-or-treat night in the dormitories. The freshmen and sophomore girls’ dormitories, Gunn Henderson East and West and Tinius East and West host the children of alumni, faculty and staff for a trick-or-treat night every year.

This year, the event occurred the day before Halloween on Oct. 30.

“John Ortiz is kind of the main head of it,” Tinius Resident Director Charina Urban said. “We go pick up candy from him and we have that in our dorms because we are the ones who pass it out. We are also in charge of broadcasting it and making it known within the dorms.”

Each participating room leaves a door open so the children know where to stop for candy. Residence Life provides the candy and the students are encouraged to dress up and decorate their doors.

The event, according to Urban, typically draws in hundreds of faculty, staff and alumni.

“It gets really crowded sometimes, but at the same time it kind of makes it more fun,” Urban said. “It is a safe environment.”

An event as large as trick-or-treat night requires a large amount of planning and structure. However, the residence life offices seem to have it under control, according to Bob Lashley, director of alumni relations.

“It is very well done, well coordinated,” Lashley said. “My compliments to the housing staff; they’re the ones that really put this thing together. It has been pretty strong for a long time.”

Having the trick-or-treating take place in the secure halls of Oklahoma Christian eliminates most potential dangers parents fear, according to Lashley.

“It is one of those safe havens where parents feel safe to take their kids to a particular place as opposed to sending them out through neighborhoods,” Lashley said. “It replaces for most of those having to worry about having to go out with them with the cars in the streets. It is a safe place to do what the kids don’t know the difference in anyway.”

Lashley said he appreciates the event because it brings alumni back to campus.

“Being able to provide activities that parents, alums, can bring their kids to… it’s a good family night and having it on campus certainly doesn’t hurt us,” Lashley said.

Urban said she agreed with Lashley that having the event on campus is good for alumni relations.

“It gives their kids the opportunity to see – even though they are really little and probably don’t understand – where their parents went to school,” Urban said. “I think it helps parents reminisce and get the opportunity to see what things have changed or not changed. It is just a cool way to bring them home.”

J.J. Compton, an alumnus and parent, said she sees the value of the trick-or-treat night for the children as well as the former Oklahoma Christian graduates.

“I think it is important to get the kids of alumni back on campus because it familiarizes them with the campus from an early age,” Compton said. “And then hopefully as they get older they’ll remember a good experience that they had and they’ll want to come back and visit campus in high school.”

Sophomore Kelly Karguth’s parents, alumni of Oklahoma Christian, brought her and her brother to campus when they were children for the trick-or-treat night.

“I do remember going to trick or treat as a child,” Karguth said. “I used to go with my little brother. … I remember that we always got the best candy from OC.”

Now, Karguth enjoys the event as a student instead of as a child. She participated in the event last fall as well as this one.

“I really liked seeing teachers’ kids that I hadn’t met yet because their costumes were creative and the kids were adorable,” Karguth said. “I have cousins who were doing it, and their older siblings had done it with me. It is just a lot of fun to see them come through and enjoy it.”

As a member of the Oklahoma Christian staff, Compton said she appreciates the unique aspect of connection it allows from the faculty and staff to the students.

“It is also a good way, at least for faculty and staff, to have outside experiences with the students and see how they get excited about helping our children,” Compton said. “Because we get excited about helping the students and helping them learn and grow spiritually, but it is nice for us to see them get excited about helping our children.”