LSU student-athletes are getting a chance to show off their Halloween costumes while giving back to the community.
The LSU Athletic Department is hosting the 15th annual Halloween BOOzar on Thursday. Jade Bryan, LSU athletics assistant director for diversity, inclusion and civic engagement, said the free event is a fun, safe opportunity for children, but encourages families to do their part for the community and donate canned goods.
“The Halloween BOOzar is a night for the local kids to come out and have a safe and fun trick-or-treating experience,” Bryan said. “It’s a free event that’s open to the public, but we are collecting canned goods at the door for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.”
Bryan said the event is a great opportunity for student-athletes to reach out to the community.
“The athletes get to serve as role models and interact with the kids,” Bryan said.
The LSU softball team has attended the BOOzar for the past 11 years. LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard said she makes attendance mandatory for the team because she feels the event benefits the athletes as well as the community.
“I think it’s of the utmost importance,” Girouard said. “One, there’s always little kids looking up to the athletes, and two, if we want the community to participate and come to our games, we have to reach out and make the first gesture.”
Junior track athlete Barrett Nugent will be attending his third BOOzar. He said branching out to the community is a positive part of being a student-athlete.
“We all do our part for the community — every sport has their own different charity,” Nugent said. “We definitely do our part in track and field.”
Bryan believes the athletes enjoy participating in the event.
“I’ve heard from many of the student-athletes that this is their favorite community service event of the year,” Bryan said. “A lot of the teams get really involved. They all participate and often come dressed in costume with their team. They really look forward to it as a team bonding experience as well.”
Girouard agreed BOOzar presents a good opportunity for team bonding. The softball team, which Bryan named as last year’s best dressed, always turns BOOzar into a team competition.
The team divides into four groups, and each group’s costumes are judged by the coaches. Girouard, who dressed as hip-hop star Flavor Flav last year, feels it’s memories like BOOzar that athletes will cherish most in years to come.
“We don’t want the experience to be just about practice and playing because years from now when they get together their memories aren’t going to be of a win,” Girouard said. “Their memories are going to be of goofy things they did together.”
 
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