She's creepy and she's kooky<br>

It was a traditional Halloween scene. Cobwebs draped the stairs leading to the house, candles lit the entryway, spooky music played in the background -- and Morticia Addams passed out candy to eager trick-or-treaters. But last night Morticia was none other than the University's own Judith Rodin. Rodin -- decked out in a long black wig, black fishnet tights and a long black dress -- opened Eisenlohr Hall, the president's official residence on Walnut Street, to trick-or-treaters for two hours last night. Streams of students filtered through the house, with handfuls stopping to snap pictures with Rodin. Dozens of young trick-or-treaters joined the Penn students, demanding candy from Rodin as part of the night's festivities. Rodin said she dressed as Morticia Addams in recognition of the opening of Addams Hall, the new Fine Arts building named after Penn alumnus Charles Addams, the creator of the popular television family. For many students who visited, last night was the first time they had met the president. "I definitely thought that this would be an interesting opportunity to meet her," Wharton junior Christine Fleming said. Several added that last night's event helped put a more personal face on Rodin, who has been criticized in the past for being inaccessible to students. A Daily Pennsylvanian survey last spring showed that while 87 percent of students thought Rodin did a good job, only 19 percent had actually met her. But last night seemed to help. "If you see your college president dressed up as a witch, she's one of us," College freshman Patricia Maloney said. And College freshman Grace Chien noted that seeing Rodin passing out candy to students "makes her much more down to earth." Some speculated that the opening of Eisenlohr on Halloween was motivated by Rodin's desire to seem more approachable and willing to work with students. "That's probably why she's doing this," said Engineering senior Sheneikwa Thomas, who said that she didn't think Rodin was very accessible to students. But Rodin -- who now lives in Eisenlohr alone, with her husband working in New York and her son a freshman at Duke University -- asserted that last night's Halloween event was about having fun, not forming an image of approachability. "That's not what tonight was about," she said adamantly. Still, some students said that they thought Rodin could be doing more than hosting trick-or-treaters to welcome students. "She's just a figurehead to me," College freshman Cecilia Fang said. "She should definitely be more accessible." Some students used last night's opportunity to meet Rodin as a chance to tell her about their activities. Julia Oh, a College junior and member of the Penn symphony orchestra, said she took advantage of last night to encourage Rodin to hire the orchestra's string quartet. "She was really enthusiastic about it," Oh said. Those who met Rodin for the first time said they left impressed. "She was really nice and friendly," Chien said. "From what I've seen, she seems like a really outgoing, friendly person." "She's very convincing as a witch," College freshman Mike Cheung joked. Next year, Rodin said, she hoped to host a Halloween block party, perhaps closing down a local street for the festivities.

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