Greeks offer Safe Halloween

Vampires, superheroes and witches invaded the North Jordan Avenue extension Wednesday evening.

Every year the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multi-Cultural Greek Council come together to create Safe Halloween, a two-hour event in which Bloomington children trick-or-treat at different sorority and fraternity houses.

Children and their parents walked up to several fraternity and sorority house lawns and driveways where greek members distributing candy awaited.

“Hundreds of kids and local parents show up every time,” said senior Hayley Gunter, PHA vice president of community involvement.”

Bloomington resident Jessie Lydy took her young son, dressed as a boxer, to the houses.

“This is a really safe alternative than going and knocking on random strangers’ doors,” Lydy said. “It gives them something to do that’s safe that we can do together.”

Each of the 16 houses on the extension has been paired with three or four other sorority or fraternity chapters, meaning each house has three or four different fraternities and/or sororities occupying it at a given time.

“This is a great way to get all four councils together,” Gunter said. “We don’t
always collaborate on events, and it’s hard to get everyone interested in one thing, but we all come together for this.”

Safe Halloween unites multiple chapters, sophomore Kappa Delta member Maddy Brown said.

“My whole pledge class is really excited about this event because it’s an awesome way to unite the whole greek community for a fun and worthwhile cause,” she said.

Kappa Delta was paired with Kappa Sigma and Zeta Beta Tau fraternities. They occupied Kappa Sigma’s house on the extension.

This event pairs multiple chapters together that wouldn’t normally all be paired together, Gunter said.

“It’s a great chance to interact and talk to people we may not normally be paired up with,” Brown said. “I wish we had more events like this that don’t involve alcohol so you can get to know other greeks on a deeper level than you might be able to at a tailgate or pair.”

Gunter said many greek chapters’ have had previous experience working with local families.

“We wanted a collaborative, service-oriented event,” Gunter said, “Several houses already do philanthropies with children. This is just an extension for their community involvement with local kids.”

Interaction with other chapters is an important part of this event, sophomore Theta Phi Alpha member Ashley Weishaar said.

“We aren’t really ever able to meet with some of the houses since it’s such a big community,” Weishaar said. “The only time that many girls are able to talk with other houses is when we go through the recruitment process.”

Many greeks wore costumes in the Halloween spirit.

Weishaar and her fellow sorority member, sophomore Hadley Catron, were dressed as ballerinas.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet new people while wearing ridiculous costumes, which usually makes us more outgoing,” Weishaar said.

Theta Phi Alpha was paired with Delta Zeta sorority and Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi fraternities.

They all occupied Delta Zeta’s house on the extension.

“Halloween is already such a fun holiday,” Gunter said, “The attendance and participation of the Bloomington residents just make it better.”

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