“[The center was] I don’t know if we’re going to make a whole quest instead of just a quest,” Zoe began.
“Get the free food and go home,” Rebecca said.
“We awkwardly stand in a circle and then walk away,” Zoe said with a laugh.
Jamilae Stockett, assistant director of the LGBTQ Center, said she is always thinking of ways to build community and help students connect with each other. Citing the exciting atmosphere of Halloween, Stockett said the center’s goal is to make the event as fun, spontaneous and enjoyable for students as possible.
Stockett said the most rewarding part of her job is the students.
“They have given me a lot of inspiration and a reason to continue doing the work that we do,” she said. “When I see them being here and becoming more confident and building themselves professionally and personally and living authentically and living confidently within that authenticity. I wish I had been closer to them while I was in college. They are brave, resilient, and beautiful.”
Students who attended the event complimented each other’s costumes and asked each other where they sourced their costumes. From rare recycled items to clothes and crowns borrowed from Amazon, participants’ gorgeous ensembles came from all over the world.
Senior EJ, who also requested anonymity, honed her sartorial talent as a regular at the North Carolina Renaissance Faire, and her outfit for the night included pieces from small-town boutiques, Eileen Fisher boots, a QVC shirt, and a flute. He said that he was From Party City.
To assume the role of trickster for the event, Cal Stork, a first-year media and journalism major, wore a Beetlejuice-style black and white striped suit. The Storks became involved with the LGBTQ Center through their participation in the Pride Place Residential Study Program, but this is the first event they have volunteered for. RLP is a residential community supported through a partnership between the LGBTQ Center and Carolina Housing, focused on the personal health and academic success of Carolina students of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Masu.
When asked what people should expect from his station, Stork said: “Lots of tricks and antics.”
Students who entered the Forbidden Forest received more than the usual event perks, including free snacks and goodies to take home. They were able to step into the characters’ shoes, daydream, and form bonds with other students who bravely chose to do the same.
@dthlifestyle |lifestyle@dailytarheel.com
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