If Penn needs another tailback for this weekend's game, Judith Rodin is up to the task.
Decked out in full football gear, the University president entertained guests at her Walnut Street house last night as part of Penn's Halloween celebration.
Rodin, wearing eye black, shoulder pads and a number 66 football jersey -- representing the year she graduated from Penn -- greeted trick-or-treaters at the door and offered them candy from her football helmet.
The walkway outside the house was lined with beaming jack-o-lanterns, pumpkins and scarecrows. Inside, a mechanical hand crawled across the doorway, while an ominous plastic vampire on the wall oozed blood from its fangs.
Students streamed in and out of the house, gazing at the well-furnished living room and stopping to take photos with the unlikely football standout.
Last fall, Rodin dressed up as Morticia Addams for the festivities. However, this year, she said she was trying to get into the Homecoming spirit.
"Penn is undefeated this season," Rodin said. "I thought it would be a good year to be a football player."
Students said they attended the Halloween celebration for a wide variety of reasons.
Some wanted to meet the president for the first time.
"I've never seen her house," Engineering senior Robin Hougum said. "I figured better late than never."
Others came to learn about the lifestyle that Rodin leads.
"I wanted to see where her $650,000 goes," College sophomore Karen Siegel said.
"If she gets paid a lot, she must have some pretty good candy," Nursing junior Lisa Kutzing added.
Eisenlohr Hall, the University president's official residence, was one of many on Walnut Street decorated to celebrate Halloween. Rodin had encouraged her neighbors to open their doors and step outside for the block party.
At one point, Rodin jogged across the street to visit the party at the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house, where she was greeted on the steps by the sorority sisters.
"It was a good opportunity for SDT to get together and work with Dr. Rodin," College sophomore Lauren Palais said.
Palais was one of many SDT sisters who returned the favor and visited Rodin's house for the celebration. She and College sophomore Melissa Resnick toured the house together and were impressed by the interior furnishings.
"I'm taking this opportunity to see what it looks like inside," Resnick said.
While not all visitors to Rodin's house were dressed in costume, some came in full Halloween garb. College sophomore Kristin Sahradnik came dressed as a "glamour cat," complete with furry ears and a feathery boa.
"I thought this was a great opportunity to see her in a different perspective," Sahradnik said. "I don't usually get to see her that often."
College sophomore Erika Nelson, who wore a pumpkin-clad boa of her own, said that she came out of curiosity.
"It's great for her to meet students, but I don't think she gets to know anybody this way," Nelson said. "It's mostly a great way for us to meet her."
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