The residence halls experienced a Harry Potter moment last
night. Mini ghouls, witches and monsters roamed through the halls
and lounges of UCLA dormitories with candy on the brain: it was
time, once again, for All Hill Halloween.
The event, sponsored by the Office of Residential Life, brought
inner-city elementary students from the Los Angeles area into the
dorms to celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating and games, said
Tere Valenzuela, media relations for the ORL’s Halloween
Committee.
Students from community centers are also invited to participate
in the festivities.
“The event started so that we could have a safe place for
inner-city elementary students to trick-or-treat,” said
Cheryl Sims, Assistant Director of Program Services.
The event has been taking place for 14 years, and residence
halls, as well as children, have always been willing to join in.
This year, 2,296 dorm rooms participated in the event, Sims
said.
Hall residents looked forward to the event.
“I know Halloween was a fun time for me, and I like to see
(the children’s) faces light up,” said Erika Noriega,
an first-year undeclared student and resident of Hitch Hall.
Noriega, and all participating residents, paid for the candy
they distributed to the elementary students.
Some residents served as tour guides, walking groups of children
to each room.
“We’re going to have two tour guides per 10
kids,” said Amanda Michalek, a third-year English student and
tour guide.
“(Tour guides’) costumes are optional, but everyone
is going to dress up,” she stated before the event.
Rieber Hall added to All Hill Halloween by having an inter-floor
decorating competition with Krispy Kreme donuts as the prize.
“We broke the floor into halls, the study lounge and
common area … and came up with a design for the floor,”
said first-year theater student Megan Trimble of her involvement in
the competition.
Even the fraternities got involved in the event by bussing the
elementary students from pick-up points to the residence halls,
Sims said.
The students were separated into groups, going to the particular
residence halls assigned to them.
With the floors decorated, students ready with bowls of candy,
and children flocking into the dorms, All Hill Halloween began.
Lounges were turned into activity centers where the children
participated in games and met UCLA athletes who signed
autographs.
Participating residents posted signs on their doors, welcoming
the children to knock on their door and collect Halloween loot.
Some of the children’s parents accompanied them to the
event as escorts.
“We like it because it’s a safe place to bring our
kids, and the students really seem to enjoy it. The faculty bring
their children here too,” said Lori Vogelgesang, whose
husband was a resident director.
Vogelgesang, an employee of the Graduate School of Education in
information studies, brought three of her children to
trick-or-treat at UCLA.
The dorm residents helped make the event a success by being
enthusiastic about both the effects it had on the children, and the
fun of Halloween.
“I’m working with kids because I really like working
with (them). Besides, we get to dress up, which is always
fun,” said Allison Murphy, a first-year undeclared
student.
The positive response from the elementary students, as well as
recognition from teachers, was encouraging and suggested a bright
and lasting future for All Hill Halloween.
“A lot of the kids don’t get a chance to go out
trick-or-treating. It’s a way for them to have fun in a safe
way. I would say that it’s one of the things they look
forward to every year,” said Tezrah Dyson, special education
teacher’s assistant at Barrett Elementary School.
With reports form Jessica Chung, Daily Bruin Contributor.