As Homecoming festivities came to an end with the Phillip Phillips concert Tuesday, students may have been surprised to realize that homecoming week didn’t have a Halloween theme.
In past years Dixie State University’s homecoming has fallen on the same week as Halloween, but this year it didn’t.
A separation between homecoming and Halloween allows for new events to take place, said Gabbie Holbrook, spirit chair of student life and senior communication major from Taylorsville.
Dixie State University Student Association members are teaming up with the DSU athletic department for their trunk-or-treat Halloween event.
The athletic department has done a trunk-or-treat for the community for at least seven years, Assistant Athletic Director Derek Dawes said.
The trunk-or-treat is still happening, but this year DSUSA has added a photo booth, Holbrook said.
Holbrook said anyone is welcome to come and get his or her photo taken with Frankenstein. Photos are free of charge and will be posted on the DSUSA page within a couple of days of the event for your viewing pleasure.
“The trunk-or-treat is really successful,” Holbrook said. “I’ve been told that it has earned awards from the city. DSUSA is really grateful that the athletic department allowed us to team up with them for the event.”
DSU’s athletic department received an award from the National Collegiate Athletic Association for both the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school year, Dawes said. Part of the award is based on community engagement.
Dawes said the athletic department started a best costume award last year that the community votes on at the event. The award goes to the team that the community decides has the best Halloween costume.
The trophy is a garden gnome that the athletic department dressed up, Dawes said. The community named it Herman so, whichever team wins is awarded the Herman trophy.
He said the baseball team won last year. They were dressed up as Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas.
Dawes hopes that joining together with student government will allow for more community involvement and encourage the whole campus to get out and participate.
“Sometimes there is a gap between athletes and student government,” Dawes said. “The more that we are able to work together, get the community out and build those relationships the better.”
The event will be held Wednesday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Hansen Stadium on the track.