This day in history: CMU Halloween
On October 31, 1990, Central Michigan Life reported on events and celebrations happening around campus for Halloween. Among them was one fraternity’s decision to use the holiday to help out the community. Gamma Iota Sigma, an actuarial science fraternity, sold “Halloween insurance” to local businesses that stated the group would provide for clean-up of any mischievous or intentional acts that occurred that Halloween night. This included, for example, carting away smashed pumpkins or cleaning soapy windows. According to the fraternity president as stated in the article, 10 local businesses purchased the premium, (donated to the fraternity.) To obtain the services of the fraternity members, businesses needed to call in their “claim” within two days of the occurrence. Amy Ross, GIS vice-president, stated as part of the article that she felt that it was a smart fundraiser for the fraternity to have. The group got the idea to sell the insurance from the GIS chapter at Olivet College, which had been selling it for about two years.
“I think many businesses felt it was a clever idea, since we are an insurance fraternity,” Ross said. “Next year we hope to start earlier but it was a good idea for the first fundraiser.”
