Written By: Naomi Stuart
Greek Row was looking fun and festive this last Thursday, October 24th during their annual Trick or Treat on the Row event. There were big candy baskets and carved pumpkins lining the sidewalks in front of the housing, with tons of fraternity and sorority members standing outside to hand out candy. This event is a special way that Fraternity and Sorority Life can create an environment where young Harrisonburg kids can safely go trick or treating in a small, safe space. The Greek Life members can see more of the community they are a part of and the kids get the chance to meet and interact with the college student in their community.
The event is a great opportunity for many parents whose kids are a little young for late–night trick or treating. With the space being very contained and watching eyes everywhere, parents can relax knowing that there are no busy streets and lots of daylight to keep things safe. The students did a great job of dressing festively and interacting with every kid who came up to get candy. Not to mention all the incredible costumes that you get to see all of the families dressed in! 
Seeing the families and kids is wonderful for JMU students who feel like they don’t get a chance to get out of the craziness of college life. It’s an opportunity to focus on something other than classwork and see all of the people who live around Harrisonburg, but they don’t get a chance to interact with.
“I love seeing all of the costumes and how creative they are,” said Niki Kavaoli, and Sophomore SMAD major. “It’s nice to get out of the JMU bubble and see what else is going on around Harrisonburg.”
Families also enjoy putting faces to some of the many college students they see around. “It’s a blast,” said John Tkac, a parent attending the event with his kids, “it’s a great opportunity for Greek life to put their best foot forward and give back.”
There were free costume photos for parents and kids, and a chance to get shots of the whole family in costume in the beautiful weather and trees on Greek Row. Many parents had come in groups and their kids got a chance to have pictures together, so they’ll always be able to reminisce over childhood Halloween memories. The community and the students got something of great value from the event. It was an opportunity for these separate FSL organizations to come together to do good.
“I think it’s a good way to show the Greek life cares and wants to give back,” said Greg Campfield, a Freshman Engineering major. “It’s great to see all of Greek life in one place, coming together.”