Tufts' campus was swarmed by clowns, Draculas, ghosts, spider-men and women, and tiny Luke Skywalkers on Saturday afternoon for the annual Halloween on the Hill event. Despite the rainy weather, organizers estimate that over 200 children came to make crafts, trick or treat and participate in other Halloween-related activities.
The rain "added a whole new element to the day," senior Randi Wiggins said. But despite the rain, she felt the event was "definitely a success." Wiggins helped to organize the event as the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate chair for special projects.
The event began in the Carmichael Hall lounge, which was teeming with children and Tufts students trying to maintain a semblance of order. The children participated in a number of crafts, including face painting and making pumpkin masks.
After finishing their crafts and making trick-or-treating bags in Carmichael, the children were led by student group leaders to West Hall. In West, the children rampaged (literally) through a haunted house inhabited by a witch, a mummy, and a giant cow. Though there were brains and eyeballs _ spaghetti and grapes, that is _ for the children to play with, most seemed to prefer stomping on the orange and black balloons.
The group leaders then guided the children around West to trick-or-treat.
Residents in West Hall marked their doors with orange pumpkins if they had candy to give out to the kids. Some residents "went all-out," senior Mike Coughlin said. "They decorated their hallways and rooms, got dressed up, carved pumpkins _ everything."
Coughlin _ who played the giant cow in the haunted house _ became in involved in Halloween on the Hill as a Resident Assistant in West and a member of the Golden Key Society. Coughlin bought over $200 in candy _ paid for by the Office of Residential Life _ to hand out in West.
"The feeling of having that much candy in your possession is incredible," Coughlin said.
The children also walked along to participating fraternities and sororities, where they could trick-or-treat and take part in activities.
Children in kindergarten through fourth grade were invited to Halloween on the Hill through their elementary schools in Medford and Somerville.
The event was sponsored by the TCU Senate, the Office of Residential Life and Learning, the Golden Key Society, and the Inter-Greek Council. About half of the group leaders were senators, according to Wiggins, the event's organizer, while the rest were affiliated with the other sponsoring groups or just enjoyed working with children.
"Everyone contributed something," she said, allowing the event to come together as it did.
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