Trick-or-treaters find new haunts

A lot of crazy looking kids were out at Nittany Apartments and Fraternity Row last night, but they were not the usual Halloween partiers.

Nittany Apartments residents and fraternity members opened their doors and passed out candy to trick-or-treaters.

Sean Cook, coordinator of Nittany Apartments, said the event will help to foster a sense of community within the apartments.

"We thought we'd do this to get the faculty, staff and students involved in the Nittany Apartment community," he said.

Cook said the event was geared towards benefiting the children of international and graduate students.

But residents of Nittany Apartments also enjoyed the event.

"I think it's a great idea. I remember how much fun Halloween was when I was a little kid and I loved to get dressed up and go trick-or-treating," said Jennifer Singer (graduate-environmental pollution control) who stood outside her apartment with a glass baking dish layered with various goodies.

"I just thought it would be nice for the little kids," she added.

Fraternity members had different reasons for participating.

Brian Bialkowski, a member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity, 328 East Foster Avenue, said the trick-or-treating also helped improve the fraternities' image in the community.

"We want to do anything we can to erase negative stereotypes," said Bialkowski (sophomore-comparative literature).

Ty Brininger (senior-agriculture economics), a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, 322 Fraternity Row, thought the event let parents see what fraternities are all about.

"Animal House is a thing of the past," he said. "We're just college students."

Bialkowski also said it was fun to see the kids come out for trick-or-treating.

"I like kids. It's just nice to see them all giddy and happy over Halloween," he said.

The children and their parents enjoyed the evening too.

Jing bo Fan, son of State College resident Xi yuan Man, trick-or-treated at the apartments.

"I just like being with my friends going around and trick-or-treating," he said.

Another trick-or-treater, Sean Pascavage of Port Matilda, echoed the feeling at the fraternities.

"We just like Halloween and getting a lot of candy," he said.

His parents, Connie and John Pascavage added, "Who could do this better than college students?"

They were soon off and running, chasing their sons to the next house, as Sean teased his brother, saying, "Come on Johnny, don't be a fraidy cat!"