Colgate University’s three sorority chapters held a trick-or-treating event for Hamilton residents at their respective houses on Tuesday, Oct. 31, reviving a long-standing tradition interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Panhellenic Council — a body of affiliated delegates who represent each sorority chapter — coordinated this year’s event. The Colgate chapters of Delta Delta Delta, Gamma Phi Beta and Kappa Kappa Gamma worked with the council to decorate their sorority houses through a friendly Halloween decorating contest. The council also ensured that each chapter was prepared with candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters on Halloween evening. Panhellenic Council President and senior MacKenzie Campbell explained how they organized the event.
“The idea for sorority-wide participation was suggested by a chapter member who brought the idea to Panhellenic Council. We enthusiastically agreed that this would be a fun opportunity to engage with the Hamilton community,” Campbell said. “We posted the event flier on our Instagram page and on the Hamilton Nextdoor community page, as well as [spread it] by word-of-mouth to Colgate professors and staff.”
Junior Kennedy Barton helped run the trick-or-treating event for Colgate’s chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma at 40 Broad Street. Barton described the preparations that went into pulling off the event.
“A few days before Halloween, a group of us collaborated to transform the front lawn into a cemetery […]. Over the course of the week, we gathered bags of candy and handwritten cards within our sorority,” Barton said. “On Halloween night, a group of about seven of us sat on our front porch to distribute candy and serve hot chocolate to the trick-or-treaters. It was so much fun chatting with the children about their costumes and their favorite candy.”
Barton and her chapter found the event to be successful.
“I was shocked by the number of children who were out trick-or-treating. We even had to make an emergency run to the grocery store for more candy,” Barton said.
Barton looks forward to holding the event again in the future — the Kappa Kappa Gamma chapter even decided to propose organizing a similar community-focused event for the winter holiday season. Barton explained why the event was fulfilling for the sorority as a chapter.
“Within [the chapter], I think this event not only helped to promote Halloween spirit, but also fostered a sense of togetherness, which is important because it reinforced our commitment to community engagement and demonstrated our dedication to making a positive impact in the local area, however small that impact may be,” Barton said.
Director for Fraternity and Sorority Advising Morgan Snow further explained why the trick-or-treating event constituted an important Colgate tradition.
“Events like these help to strengthen our relationship with the Hamilton community and reinforce our organizations’ commitment to engaging with and serving the surrounding community,” Snow said. “These traditions help our chapters be good neighbors to the community they live amongst.”
Campbell echoed her sentiments, adding that the trick-or-treating event was an excellent way for Colgate’s sororities to continue their commitment to local community involvement.
“As large organizations on Colgate’s campus, it is important for our chapters to be involved in the local community, and this event was one way we can do that,” Campbell said. “Continuing to host events that involve the greater Hamilton community is a great way for us to be good neighbors.”
