University of Connecticut students got a head start to trick-or-treating on Friday, Oct. 31, as the UConn Student Union hosted “Trick or Treat at the U.”
“It’s awesome. It’s such a good time for people to come and connect and just get candy,” said Nolan Busalacchi, a third-semester economics and political science major. “It’s a good break from academics, a good break from everything that’s going on.”
Students filled four floors of the Student Union, collecting candy from over 20 different participating organizations and businesses.
The trick-or-treating began for most in the North Lobby on the second floor, where students scanned their student ID to receive an orange bag to put the candy (along with their first piece of candy). Other locations on the second floor that handed out candy included Dunkin’, the Veterans Oasis and the Community Police office.
“It’s good because it engages people that wouldn’t usually be coming out to the union,” said Aidan Eager, a student supervisor at the Student Union Convenience Store. “Handing out candy at the convenience store, you see a lot of people that are unfamiliar faces. But then they come in, they see the convenience store … and they might be more primed to come back.”
In addition to handing out candy, some organizations took the additional step of decorating or dressing up for the event. The standout experience came from the Student Activities office, who decorated their area to resemble the Land of Oz from “Wicked” and “The Wizard of Oz.” It featured a yellow brick road and multiple staff members dressing as the iconic characters, with multiple stops along the way for students to collect more candy.
Outside the Community Outreach office, Sgt. Justin Cheney of the UConn police department brought Officer Jazmine, one of their facility dogs, to interact with students. Cheney dressed up as Bob Ross, with Jazmine costumed as a painting.
UConn Spider-Man was also in attendance, bringing his own bag of candy to hand out to trick-or treaters and fitting right in with others who came in costume.
While costumes were not required to participate in the trick-or-treating, there was a good group of students who decided to dress for the occasion. Though full face masks were technically not allowed, an exception was made for a student who donned the full “Michael Myers” suit. One student painted a box to appear as “DoodleBob” from “SpongeBob SquarePants,” with another making their way around in an inflatable suit of the titular character.
“It’s just time for people to express themselves,” said Busalacchi. The costumes are awesome.”
Busalacchi, who is the Director of Organization Support Services for the UConn Student Government, wore a banana suit while passing out candy for USG on the second floor of the Union.
“I wear it to the [UConn] basketball games. It’s a staple,” said Busalacchi, referring to the group of students who have become well known for sitting in the front of the student section at UConn basketball games dressed as bananas.
Like Eager, Busalacchi talked about the importance of the event bringing more students to the Student Union.
“I did this last year, and I figured out about so much new stuff,” said Busalacchi. “The Veterans Center, for example, had candy last year and it was awesome. I went in, I met some new people. It was really cool. It’s a good event.”
Featured photo courtesy of @uconnstudentunion on instagram