By Emma Weidmann | Intern
Baylor’s Residence Hall Association hosted its annual Treat Night on Tuesday evening. Children and grandchildren of the university’s faculty and staff were invited to get into the Halloween spirit and travel to each dorm to trick or treat on campus.
Participants were limited to children under 12 and were required to RSVP ahead of time and make a donation of $1 or a canned good in order to partake in the event. These donations go toward The Store, an on-campus food pantry and resource that helps combat food insecurity amongst students, which, due to the effects of COVID-19, is now more important than ever.
Since many faculty members live in residence halls with their families, this tradition has been one way for the children and grandchildren of on-campus staff to get to enjoy Halloween without living in a traditional neighborhood. This opportunity was lost last year due to the pandemic, but as life both on and off campus has begun to return to normal, the celebration was revived.
“This year’s Treat Night was such a fun night to serve the Baylor community,” Simi Valley, Calif., junior and North Russell Residence Hall community leader Isabelle Zgorzelski said.
Each residence hall, as well as several other spots on campus like the Bill and Eva Williams Bear Habitat, decorated its space for the trick-or-treaters. North Russell hosted a ’70s and Scooby-Doo bash, complete with lights, music, groovy-themed decorations and lots of happy kids crowding the lobby. In addition to the mounds of candy, there was a coloring book table and more games available for the children.
San Antonio freshman and North Russell social committee member Taylor Jerry said North Russell made the Treat Night unique in its own way.
“Although Treat Night is a campus-wide event, North Russell really made it special,” Jerry said. “I remember seeing a bunch of retro art everywhere, kids with costumes and toddlers running around.”
Jerry said there’s more Halloween celebrations planned for the future.
“North and South Russell are planning a joint event for the students to get to enjoy with multiple Halloween-themed activities,” Jerry said. “There’s going to be movies and lots of lawn games for the residents.”
The community leaders of the residence hall could be seen greeting the children and handing out candy in their own costumes.
“It was a great way to spend the night with other students, community leaders and invite others to join the excitement on campus,” Zgorzelski said.
