Tiny princesses, warriors and bumblebees visited Sigma Phi Epsilon’s “haunted” fraternity house Tuesday evening to participate in carnival activities and explore a pitch-black maze.
The one day event, located in the Sigma Phi Epsilon house’s first floor, complemented the annual Panhellenic trick-or-treat on Sorority Row. Sigma Phi Epsilon converted one room into a maze by wrapping black visquiene, a tarp-like material, onto wooden stands.
The other room had carnival activities including apple bobbing, face painting, pumpkin decorating and pin the wart on the witch.
Sigma Phi Epsilon and Chi Omega teamed to host the chilling adventure for community children as a community service event.
Fraternity brothers attempted to scare the children as they crawled through the maze with grasping hands, taunting screams and costumed monsters.
“It shows another side of fraternities and sororities, because they don’t just party; they have involvement in community service,” said LSU alumna Carla Vickers, who brought her son to the house.
Chi Omega invited children from Parker House, a local foster home, to visit the house, said Ginger Harmon, Chi Omega new member educator.
The turnout exceeded expectations because children from the Panhellenic trick-or-treat for faculty and alumni children also came. The organization expected 20 visitors, but had several hundred.
Scott Sternberg, Sigma Phi Epsilon chairman of events, welcomed the additional guests because more children benefitted from his work. He spent two days constructing the maze from leftover wood.
“It’s nice to have parents come and see its not just a fraternity house, we do things for other people also,” said Chris Anderson, Sigma Phi Epsilon brotherhood development vice president.
Chi Omega funded the event and Sigma Phi Epsilon provided the physical labor for construction. The organizations teamed up before for homecoming celebrations and hope to make the Halloween events a tradition, Harman said.
“It’s enjoyable to do service projects when you get interaction with young kids and put a smile on their face,” said Chris Hudson, Sigma Phi Epsilon president.