(Posted October 26, 2009)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College has decided to cancel for this year the college's traditional trick-or-treating in residence halls in order to prevent inadvertent exposure of college students and community members to the H1N1 flu virus. The Halloween tradition, which was to take place Wednesday, Oct. 28, from 6 to 8 p.m., will be reinstated next year.

"Although Juniata College has so far not been as affected as colleges in other areas, we thought for this year it is better to be safe than sorry," says Tim Launtz, director of public safety and residential life. "We are going to reinstate next year this long-standing tradition that gives so much enjoyment to our students and community members."

The cancellation of trick-or-treating on the Juniata campus applies only to college residence halls.

Juniata has had a long-standing tradition of students decorating residence hall rooms and offering trick-or-treating to local children. The Juniata students often choose costumes and decorate their dorm areas according to themes such as Disney movies, haunted houses or other themes.

Juniata has reported just a few isolated cases of college students who have contracted the H1N1 virus and those students have fully recovered.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.