Halloween at the Zeta Psi haunted house was a fun and frightening experience for about 30 children of Lafayette staff and administrators last Tuesday.
The fraternity opened its doors and Halloween frights to the children, who turned out despite the unseasonable freezing rain and snow. They walked through a building decorated according to the theme of a haunted zoo.
“Our story revolved around an escaped gorilla that lived in our basement and comes out once a year,” says mathematics and economics major Michael Dziecichowicz ’04 (Baltimore, Md.), treasurer for Zeta Psi. “Judging by the reactions of the kids that walked through, our haunted house gave a scare that typifies what Halloween is all about.”
Alpha Gamma Delta sorority organized the administrative side of the event.
“They gave our house an A-plus for fright and fun,” notes Dziecichowicz, who arranged the event along with mechanical engineering major Michael Winters ’04 (Cockeysville, Md.). “They added that our house was a great addition to a great night.”
The Tau Chapter House of Zeta Psi fraternity is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1909-10, the large stone building on South College Drive overlooks downtown Easton from the edge of College Hill.
Each week, Zeta Psi members play games with underprivileged children at Third Street Alliance, serve food at the Safe Harbor homeless shelter, tutor local children with schoolwork, and participate in Safe Rides, a program that runs a shuttle bus between the campus and local bars.
Over the past year, Zeta Psi also has organized a clothing drive for Safe Harbor, collected Christmas presents for underprivileged children served by Toys for Tots, held a car wash to support the Easton Police Department, and hosted the Leadership Training Institute Weekend.
In addition, the fraternity contributed $125 to a Make-a Wish Foundation fundraiser held at College Hill Tavern and $70 to the Dance Marathon held for the Children’s Fund of 9/11.
Zeta Psi is one of the oldest fraternities on campus. The Lafayette chapter was organized in 1857.