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Brody Villaseñor

President John Nunes and Ms. Mo posing for a photo with attendees of their trick or treat event.

California Lutheran University students celebrated Halloween with an evening of festive activities on Friday, including destination trick or treating at the President’s House, Residence Halls and university themed houses. 

The night began with HalloWellness, an annual event hosted by Wellness Resources. The celebration featured a costume contest, games, crafts and a raffle for students. Churro Champs, a local catering business, was also present serving churros, hot chocolate and café de olla.

Carol Macias Castillo, a sophomore and Wellness intern, said the annual event is always “relatively popular” among students. She said the stations in Kingsmen Park helped educate students on safe drinking practices.

Before going through a giant inflatable obstacle course, students read about safe drinking practices and wore goggles that simulated being under the influence of alcohol.

Senior Alison Khordodi, vice president of Psychology Club, said her organization tabled at the event to raise awareness about helping break the stigma around mental health. 

“[Hallowellness is] right after midterms and a lot of us are kind of in that project heavier, test heavier part of the semester,” Khordodi said. “[We’re] making sure people know that it is okay to get help.”

Later in the day, President John Nunes, first lady Monique “Ms. Mo” Nunes and their dog, Brooklyn, hosted trick or treating at their house on Campus Drive.

Nunes said he and Ms. Mo love finding ways to engage and getting to know students.

“Sometimes the life of a student is — especially in mid-semester, which is exactly where we are right now — not easy, and there’s a lot of drudgery,” Nunes said. “It’s Halloween tonight, so we thought that we could maybe just lighten the semester with a little mid-semester Halloween cheer.”

Nunes said a highlight was seeing students dressed in costumes that brought them out of their comfort zone.  

“Like that guy who just came up, you know? I mean, he was definitely in costume and, obviously sort of an introvert and kind of shy, but sometimes when people wear costumes, they come out of their shells,” Nunes said. 

Aiden Chuckets, a senior, said he was invited to the President’s House to watch Game 6 of the World Series after Nunes preached during University Chapel on Thursday.

“I figured I’d come over and kind of see what it was about, watch the Dodgers game and just kind of hang out,” Chuckets said. “It’s a great environment. [Nunes has] a lot of energy, [I] love being here.”

To end the night, Residence Life hosted their second annual Haunted House Hop, where students could stop by 18 university themed houses, residence halls, and alumni and staff houses for candy. 

Themed homes on Faculty Road were inspired by “mental physical wellness,” “women’s empowerment,” and “Bluey,” the children’s television series. 

Nicholas Frangos, coordinator for Residence Life, said students were able to bring their friends and join in the fun, even if they tend to see themselves as adults within the community.

“It’s a way for us to continue to do some trick-treating with our college age students and just a fun way,” Frangos said.