Not all UCLA alumni can say that an elementary school student has willingly thrown down Halloween candy to run to their defense.
Brandon Dietz, former resident assistant and student leader, said he experienced this rarity in his first year participating in All-Hill Halloween when one college student, disguised as a mummy, pretended to kidnap him in front of the children.
The All-Hill Halloween program, now cancelled, annually provided up to 3,000 students in the Los Angeles Unified School District the opportunity to trick-or-treat in the residence halls and participate in Halloween festivities such as face-painting and coloring.
But, for the first time in 20 years, students from underprivileged areas will have to look elsewhere for Halloween fun and safe trick-or-treating opportunities.
“Due to safety and logistical concerns given construction on the Hill that will last likely through 2013, we have taken a hiatus on the program,” said Suzanne Seplow, director of the Office of Residential Life, in a written statement.
“When construction is completed, we will revisit bringing the event back to UCLA,” she added.
Dietz said he imagined that the logistical and financial challenges associated with orchestrating the event and transporting the students from their schools to UCLA could also have contributed to the termination of the program.
Though LAUSD students can no longer celebrate Halloween at UCLA, they can look across town for similar entertainment and activities.
USC has run a similar but smaller program called “Spirits at Troy” for the past 15 years, said Eloisa Garcia, director of “Spirits at Troy” and community outreach coordinator for the University Resident Student Committee.
She also said that she met with UCLA officials to discuss possible ways to encourage the LAUSD students to attend USC’s program.
“They gave me a lot of great ideas for making our program bigger and more involved,” Garcia added.
This year’s event will take place at USC on Oct. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. and will include trick-or-treating in the residence halls as well as carnival-like festivities such as bouncy toys, face-painting and cookie-decorating, she said.
Garcia added that she extended an invitation to the students from schools who formerly came to UCLA’s All-Hill Halloween via school bus.
“I really hope a lot (of kids) do come because we have more supplies for the kids,” Garcia said. But, she added that she realizes USC’s inability to transport students to the event due to budget constraints and liability issues could prevent some from attending.
UCLA students that have participated in All-Hill Halloween in the past hope that the younger kids will not always have to look to USC for Halloween fun.
Dietz said the memories he has from All-Hill Halloween make him wish for the continuation of what he believes to be a valuable tradition.
“All-Hill Halloween was a lot to tackle, but I feel like it was worth it,” Dietz added. “UCLA has always emphasized a holistic education, and this gave students the opportunity to see a world outside of the ones we’ve been taught exists.”
He added that it allowed UCLA students to help the greater Los Angeles community while bonding with neighbors living in the resident halls by working with their floor-mates to coordinate the various Halloween activities.
“It was a good community builder,” Dietz added.
He also said he enjoyed the satisfaction of watching people come together and have a good time as the planning of the day’s events paid off.
“There was an energy in the air, and everyone was really excited,” he said. “The kids absolutely loved it. … For the most part, the program was a good thing.”