The brightly lit halls of the Student Union Building echoed with laughter and holiday spirit as Texas Tech students greeted children dressed as superheroes, princesses and cartoon characters in an effort to offer a safe alternative for Halloween fun.
Tech-or-Treat, hosted by the Student Activities Board, Student Union and Activities and other organizations, partnered with Safe Treat and the Residence Halls Association to create a substitute to trick or treating where children were invited on to Tech campus for a safer Halloween experience.
K’Von Dixon, a first-year master’s student in higher education from Detroit, Michigan, and a Residence Halls Association student supervisor, said the annual Tech-or-Treat is hosted to create a safe, family friendly Halloween celebration at Tech.
“For safety, there’s no better place than to be on campus, especially for your young ones,” Dixon said. “You got the police station right around the corner, so it makes it even better.”
Different types of candies sit at tables for kids to enjoy during the annual Tech-or-Treat event hosted by the Student Activities Board in the Student Union Building Oct. 28, 2025.
Cali Coiner
He said the motivation behind the event is not only to provide a safe space for the community to trick or treat, but it also is an opportunity to give back and inspire future Tech students.
“We not only care about our students, but we care about the community and growing that relationship with one another,” he said. “It’s nice being able to give back to the kids, because they’re going to be the ones that’s going to be the next generation of Red Raiders.”
Tiffany Mescia, a second-year kinesiology major from Stephenville, helped the Student Union and Activities organize games and booths for the Tech-or-Treat. She said the event was planned with physical safety of children at top priority.
“Of course we planned this with safety in mind. It’s for kids,” Mescia said. “There’s a lot of bad Halloween stories nowadays, so having something for the younger kids that’s inside, where there’s a lot of people to watch over and regulate what happens, is a good thing.”
Caroline Singer, an event attendee, said she enjoys taking her daughter to these events as they feel like a safer alternative due to the location on Tech campus.
“One of the things that attracted me to it is the safety aspect here,” Singer said. “I know the university is safe, and I know the people handing it out are not going to be weirdos, and I don’t have to worry about things like cars or anything like that.”
A kid dressed as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle balances a ball on a spoon while completing a challenge during the annual Tech-or-Treat event hosted by the Student Activities Board in the Student Union Building Oct. 28, 2025.
Cali Coiner
While the event focused on creating a secure environment for local families, Caitlin Jeffries, the public information officer for the Tech Police Department, said staying safe during the Halloween season applies to everyone, especially with children.
“Being observant in general is a huge thing. I tell people all the time that it’s really important to be observant and really watch your surroundings,” Jeffries said. “If you stay aware of something going on, you’re less likely to be a victim of a crime. Trust your gut.”
Whether it’s children or adults, Jeffries recommends trick or treaters and parents to use the buddy system to make sure all party members are accounted for, and to consider visibility and mobility when picking out costumes.
“Don’t ever leave a buddy behind,” she said. “Another thing you can do is make sure you’re choosing costumes for practicality and safety reasons.”