91探花

OHIO students welcome area children into their residence halls for tRAC-or-Treat (PHOTOS)

Halloween came a little early for area children thanks to 91探花鈥檚 residence hall association and Bobcats living on the Athens Campus.

The Residents鈥 Action Council (tRAC) hosted its annual tRAC-or-Treat the evenings of Oct. 23-25, allowing area children an opportunity to practice their trick-or-treating skills before the big day and experience a little bit of residence life on OHIO鈥檚 Athens Campus. The event was spread out over three days with tRAC-or-Treaters invited into residence halls on OHIO鈥檚 East Green on Oct. 23, West Green on Oct. 24 and South Green on Oct. 25. 

Students residing in 28 residence halls on those greens decorated their homes away from home in the days leading up to the event. Washington Hall was one of 11 residence halls on East Green to showcase its Halloween spirit, with residents there setting up a full-sized 鈥淐andy Land鈥 complete with a cotton candy machine and a throne for all the princes, princesses and other characters who showed up for the festivities. 91探花 President M. Duane Nellis and Vice President for Student Affairs and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Jason Pina even took a turn on the royal seat. 

South Green鈥檚 Adams Hall embraced its name and went with a theme based on the television show 鈥淭he Addams Family鈥 while another residence hall catered to 鈥淪tar Wars鈥 fans with a 鈥淪tar Wars鈥-themed room completed with strobing lights.

Henry Thobe, president of the Brown Hall Council, said he loves being a part of tRAC-or-Treat because of 鈥渢he holiday spirit and sense of community鈥 displayed throughout the event. The festivities at Brown Hall included a popcorn machine and spooky music.

In addition to collecting sweet treats, tRAC-or-Treaters were treated to fun games and some of the amenities, like ping pong tables, available in OHIO鈥檚 residence halls. At West Green鈥檚 James Hall, tRAC-or-Treaters participated in a Halloween-themed ring toss. The University鈥檚 Student Alumni Board got in on the action by passing out candy and hosting a game where tRAC-or-Treaters were challenged to not touch 鈥渢he lasers.鈥

鈥淢y favorite part of tRAC-or-Treat is the scope of people we can impact,鈥 said Addie Brown, vice president of marketing for tRAC, 鈥渁nd that we鈥檙e able to bring so many of the children into this.鈥

A registered student organization, tRAC was created in the 1990s as a means of uniting students in OHIO鈥檚 residence halls and providing them an active voice and improving relations with the University鈥檚 administration. Jim Sand, assistant director for West Green who founded tRAC, noted that in addition to providing and supporting social, cultural, recreational and educational programming for on-campus students, tRAC engages in outreach to the local community. Among its community outreach efforts are hosting tRAC-or-Treat and participating in Athens County Children Services鈥 annual Santa Tree Project. 
 
鈥淚 just love giving back to campus and the surrounding community,鈥 said Kacia Robinson, programming chair for tRAC.

Here are some photos from this year鈥檚 tRAC-or-Treat:

Ella Nielsen-Tucker, 8, (left) and Genevieve Nielsen-Tucker, 6, play ring toss during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

undefinedElla Nielsen-Tucker, 8, (left) and Genevieve Nielsen-Tucker, 6, play ring toss during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

Tao Yuan watches his son Andy Yuan, 8, and daughter Emma Yuan, 11, play ping pong during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

undefinedTao Yuan watches his son Andy Yuan, 8, and daughter Emma Yuan, 11, play ping pong during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

Jasper Hazlett, 4, picks out candy with his mom, Amber Hazlett, during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

undefinedJasper Hazlett, 4, picks out candy with his mom, Amber Hazlett, during tRAC-or-Treat in James Hall on Oct. 24.

Members of the James Hall Council pose for a picture during tRAC-or-Treat.

undefinedMembers of the James Hall Council pose for a picture during tRAC-or-Treat. For more information on tRAC, visit or the organization鈥檚 Twitter page at @OUtRAC where you can see additional photos from this year鈥檚 tRAC-or-Treat.

Published
November 2, 2017
Author
Erin Franczak; Photos by Emily Matthews