This Halloween the children of the community will be provided with a fun and safe environment through the Fall Carnival and Trick or Treat with the Greeks.
The event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at North Oak Park. Children of all ages are invited to attend an evening featuring games with prizes, spacewalks, balloons, face painting, pizza, drinks and other activities.  
The Black Student Union (BSU), the Office of Multicultural and International Student Affairs (MISA) and the Office for Student Engagement (OSE), sponsor the event with the additional hayride provided by Recreational Sports and Wellness.
 “I think the event is a wonderful opportunity for our community’s children to trick or treat in a completely safe environment,” said Beth Newell, assistant director of Student Engagement. “It also serves as a way for our students to give back to the community that is so supportive of them.”
All organizations are invited to participate in the evening by coordinating an age-appropriate game. The deadline for organization applications is Oct. 22. Registration forms should be returned to the Office for Student Engagement in the Student Union Room 206.
The event originated as a solution to parental discomfort with traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating.
“Some parents don’t feel they have a safe place for their children to go trick-or-treating or are just uncomfortable with going door-to-door, and they know that Southeastern’s campus is a safe environment,” said Brendan Daigle, coordinator of MISA. “However, there are some who just prefer to bring the children to enjoy the games and additional activities that are not available with regular trick-or-treating.”
The Fall Carnival and Trick or Treat with the Greeks has been in conjunction since 2010. However, 2012 marks the 8th annual Fall Carnival.
“The reason we joined is that Fall Carnival had been its own event since 2005, started by the Black Student Union. Then a few years ago the Greeks put together their own event, Trick or Treat on Greek Street,” said Daigle. “Rather than have two separate events on the same day, the two were merged together.”
While this will be the third year for the joint event, the hayride is a new addition to the 2012 carnival.
“Fall Carnival and Trick or Treat with the Greeks has gotten bigger every year, not only in terms of the number of children who attend, but the event itself has expanded,” said Daigle. “I think it’s wonderful that the different student organizations and campus departments collaborate to make it happen. I’m excited about Recreational Sports and Wellness joining us this year and adding the hay ride.”
 The event has been consistently successful with over 300 children in attendance last year, according Newell.
“The event is held annually because our students enjoy it, and it’s a huge success,” said Newell. “There would be tons of disappointed community members if we decided to stop hosting it.”