While dozens of villains ran around the Bowen Thompson Student Union Tuesday night, equally as many superheroes were around to save the day if any mischief was caused.
The Resident Student Association plans the Halloween Fun Fest each year as a service to the Bowling Green community. T’Shawn Sanders, RSA Vice President of programming, said the event has been going on for several years.
“It’s basically to intermingle, not only BG students with other BG students, but also intermingle BG students with the communities of Bowling Green…to let people in the community know they are welcome here for anything because we’re all from the same city so why not know each other,” Sanders said.
From 6 to 9 p.m., members of various student organizations such as SMART, National Residence Hall Honorary, Greek organizations and residence hall councils had the opportunity to set up tables to pass out candy and play games with area families.
Planning for the event begins immediately after Casino Night at the end of August. This year, the planning process included more diversity and inclusion, Sanders said.
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This included adding the Multicultural Greek Council and the campus resource center.
“It’s just having their faces seen because a lot of people don’t know that we have all of these things…that we have a major impact on multicultural students,” Sanders said.
Kandann Coleman, president of Latino Student Union, said she has already seen the difference in diversity this year.
“I have never seen actual Greek organizations come in as Greek organizations,” she said.
Coleman said Greek organizations are often looked at differently than other student groups on campus, and she’s glad they aren’t for this specific event.
“Kids just want to be creative,” she said. “They really don’t care how that happens…they just want to get messy, and they’re having fun.”
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At the Latino Student Union Table, Coleman offered local children a chance to paint. She said LSU does some sort of painting and sensory activity every year.
Aside from painting, local children could play corn hole, eat a donut from a string, as well as play several other games and collect candy at almost every table.
One such game was the Witches Hat Ring Toss put on by Harshman Hall Council. Sophomore Karen Williams said by 7:30 p.m. around 60 children had already come by her table.
“There are a lot of kids that come up and tell us they’re going to do great at our game, and others just stare at you,” she said.
According to the residence life website, around 100 families attend the event each year.
Sanders tried to raise this number and hopes the next event planner will continue his progress in making the event larger “because it’s a great event for the community to associate themselves with the University.”
