By Grace Dubrowski
Staff Writer

Witches, vampires, police men, and even a stick of juicy fruit gum stalked the halls of Le Fer hall on Oct. 26 for  the Sophomore-Freshmen Leadership Council (SFLC) event, Trick-or-Treating.
This event was created for students attending the Wabash Valley’s elementary schools, staff and faculty children, and children of Woods students.
This is the 14th year that SFLC has sponsored a Halloween event on the campus of SMWC.
For the past four years this Halloween event has consisted only of trick-or-treating in Le Fer Hall. However, this year’s SFLC decided to do something new.
“This year we hosted a Halloween party, which was something new for all of us since this hasn’t been done for a couple of years,” said Kirstin Strow, president of SFLC for the 2011-2012 school year.  “Along with candy that was set out at each RA table, we also purchased prizes.”
The most positive outcome of the event was that it brings the SMWC community together to make the event work, said Strow.
But what are some of the benefits of this event for the participants?
Of course, for the children who walk door to door, their biggest prize is a bag filled to the brim with candy.
But, there are some perks to the evening that don’t come in brightly colored wrappers, especially for the parents of the trick-or-treaters.
“I know that my children will be in a safe and protected environment when I bring them here for trick-or-treating,” said Jacqueline Forrester, who has brought her two children to the event for the past three years.
“Plus, they say they always get more candy here then they do in our own neighborhood on Halloween, so it’s a win-win,” she said.
Kevin Greene, a single father, and his four-year-old daughter were newcomers to SFLC’s trick-or-treating this year.
“I plan on bringing her back here every year that we can,” Greene said. “The girls passing out candy were so friendly and welcoming to her. The students were great role models for my daughter, even if she only gets to interact with them for a few seconds as she puts her hand in a candy bowl.”
For the SMWC students who pass out candy in the halls, the evening has a whole other set of positives.
Noelle Hingsbergen, freshmen at the Woods, talks about the nostalgia she experienced through the event.
“Being in college, we are no longer little kids who go out trick-or-treating with our families,” she said.  “I got to relive part of my memories through giving out candy to the little kids. I may not have the Halloweens that I used to, but it helps to participate and still be part of the night that is known and loved by everyone.”

Grace Dubrowski, Trick or Treat