Students trick, treat and haunt city kids

Jason rose from the dead once again last night, this time to terrorize local school children at the Castle yesterday. The Castle haunted house and an Alpha Chi Rho Halloween party were two of the dozens of the stops kids made on a trick-or-treating tour of campus, which included almost all campus fraternities and sororities and over 15 student groups. Dressed as everything from Freddy Kreuger to ALF, the kids had the most fun at the Castle. It was dark and eerie, filled with warlocks, demons, and mad scientists. And, of course, Jason. "I saw this guy who's eyes rolled back," said 7th-grader Julian. "I got scared and I hit him by accident." For 6th-grader Sommay, the haunted house was an opportunity to get closer with some older women. "The best part was when I pretended I was scared and I hugged this girl," he said. The kids went on to bob for apples and play musical chairs at the AXP party before hitting the fraternity houses for candy. Phi Kappa Sigma made their own haunted house which included 13-foot python Chuck which was wrapped around College sophomore Tom Dolan. "I thought it was fake and I squeezed it," said 6th-grader Pino. "Then I said, 'oops.' " Fraternities along Locust Walk have had local children trick-or-treat at their houses in previous years, but this is the first year the event has involved so many kids and University groups. Organizers Debbie Frank, a College junior, and Wharton junior Sonia Verma said the event this year included almost 200 kids from six different community programs. "The kids were so excited they were trying to get to some houses twice," said Verma. "It's really been adorable." Frank said the fraternity participation and overall help from students made the event a great success. And the University students had a good time too. In response to all the fun, College and Wharton sophomore Emily Kramer said, "I want to be a little kid again." "The haunted house is amazing," added College sophomore and chaperon Heather Danzig. "When you get older you don't get to do these things anymore." Sister Agatha, coordinator of the Teach West Philadelphia program, said she thought the event was very well organized and was impressed with the effort put in by all of the students. "It was wonderful for the kids and fun for the tutors to see them in a different environment," she said. "The kids can run around but at the same time feel secure." The kids paraded around campus with student chaperons from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Community Kids, the Community Education Center, Dixon House, Say Yes to Education, West Philadelphia Tutoring Project, and Teach West Philadelphia participated in the event.

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