ALMOST EVERYONE HAS fond memories of trick-or-treating as a kid. Remember getting dressed up and going out into the night with a bunch of friends, or an adult chaperone? That was something to look forward every October.

But how old is too old to go trick-or-treating? Should college students not be allowed to go out and ask for candy simply because they’re not cute and little? Or if they go, are they taking candy away from the little kids who deserve it simply because they’re little kids?

Some DU students feel that everyone should be allowed to trick-or-treat.

“As long as you have a costume, any age is okay [for trick-or-treating],” said Zack Bignell, an 18-year-old freshman.

Rene Henderson, a 20-year-old junior, agreed. “I don’t think there should be an age limit,” she said. “College students can go as long as they wear a costume and set a good example for the kids. For example, they can’t be drunk or high.”

A costume seems to be the defining factor for many people on this issue. Teresa Russo, a 30-year-old graduate student, said that students “should stop trick-or-treating when they stop having good costumes, because I don’t give them candy if they don’t have a costume on.”

Some students take advantage of Halloween to get free candy, without putting effort in making or buying a costume.

Another concern is the example that trick-or-treating college students set for children. Layla Hilton, a 22-year-old senior, doesn’t think that college students are too old, “as long as they set a good example for the kids, and don’t make it unsafe for the kids.”

Children look up to those who are older, so it is important for students not to do anything bad for the children to imitate, Hilton said.

Others feel that Halloween should be treated as a holiday for children, with trick-or-treating restricted to the youngest generation.

Andrew Hunt, an 18-year-old freshman, said, “College kids are too old to trick-or-treat. I was just brought up that way. It’s for the kids.”

Kristen Weaver, a 20-year-old junior, said that “college students are definitely too old to trick-or-treat. They should be handing out candy, not taking it from little kids.”

Others don’t have a strong opinion on this issue.

Jarod Casner, a 20-year-old junior, said, “I don’t think college students are too old to trick-or-treat, but I’m going to have a party.”

Nicolette Eason, a 19-year-old sophomore, feels that trick-or-treating is not a positive activity to begin with. “I think Halloween is bad,” she said, “because it teaches people about taking, not giving. I think that instead of going and asking for candy, they should give stuff.”

Nonetheless, there will be plenty of college-age trick-or-treaters Thursday night, as well as little kids in costumes.