March 3, 2011 - 4:38pm
Does University President Mary Sue Coleman hand out candy to trick-or-treaters?
BY KYLE SWANSON
Almost everyone can remember dressing up and going out to trick-or-treat as a child, traveling from door to door, asking those in their neighborhood for the perfect remedy to their craving for candy.
For some University students that Halloween tradition offered the opportunity get some face time with University President Mary Sue Coleman and prove a campus myth true in the process.
The myth that Coleman welcomes trick-or-treaters who stop by on Oct. 31 to the University's President's House at 815 South University Ave. is quite literally true. Coleman’s front door actually sits open on Halloween, while the porch light burns brightly to let students know she’s home and handing out candy.
And Coleman continued the tradition Sunday night. Sitting in her first floor living room and doing work on her iPad on Halloween, Coleman jumped up as a group of students walked up to the front door, and welcomed the students inside.
The students, four LSA sophomores, came in full costume. Coleman was visibly pleased to see the students dressed up and noted that many visitors came in costume.
“People are doing very inventive costumes,” Coleman told The Michigan Daily at the President's House on Sunday. “One guy who did a lot with aluminum foil. And then we had some witches and we had Justin Bieber.”
And after pointing out that she wasn’t wearing a costume, Coleman proudly talked about her two grandchildren dressing up for Halloween — one as Buzz Lightyear from the movie "Toy Story" and the other as a kitten.
Coleman also told the Daily that there have been a fair number of trick-or-treaters who have come “dressed as Michigan students,” though she’s happily given them treats too.
Motioning to a tray of candy in the foyer of her home, Coleman proudly pointed out that the treats include apples that were grown in Michigan — saying they were the most popular treat — raisins and an assortment of candy bars like Three Musketeers and Krackel bars.
“I’ve had lots of people so far,” Coleman said at approximately 7 p.m. on Sunday, adding she planned to leave her door open until about 9 p.m. “I’ve had probably 30 or 40, maybe 50 (trick-or-treaters) stop by.”
