Halloween is just around the corner and the build-up of excitement can be felt around campus. But each fierce kitty cat and risky business character still needs to stay safe this Halloween. Here are some tips to stay out of harm’s way:
- Make your costume reasonable- Although wearing a ridiculous costume can make you the center of attention, try to keep it somewhat low-key. You could overheat, it could get ripped or ruined, someone could step on you and you could fall. This also includes heels! Don’t wear them if you cant walk in them or don’t usually wear them (especially new heels! Nothing is worse than the day after blisters from new heels)
- All drinking rules still apply. Don’t drink too much or too fast. No one wants to be the poor girl or guy that gets transported on Halloween. Eat a full meal and drink lots of water. Have gatorade and a snack waiting by your bed for when you get home.
- Make sure to have I.D on your person at all times. If the cops break up a party don’t be the one to get in more trouble because you can’t prove who you are.
- Walk in groups. Someone is way less likely to mess with you if you have your best friends by your side.
- Keep your phone with you at all times (which shouldn’t be too hard, who doesn’t always have their phone on them?)
- Keep extra cash with you if you are going off campus— walking two miles in a mini-skirt from that crazy but unexpected off-campus party is not how you want to end your Halloween night.
- Check in with friends throughout the night. Use the buddy system! Something as little as a text can be life-saving.
- Tell people where you’re going! If you want to leave one party for another let friend’s know don’t just disappear. This may help save your life.
- Walk on the main paths only, don’t take a shortcut. Stick to where the streetlights and safety boxes are.
- Don’t leave your drink unattended- we have all heard the horror stories of date rape drugs. Keep your drink in your hand and you should be fine! If you put it down, just get a new drink and dump out the old one.
- Be weary of drunk drivers! Stupid decisions are a theme of Halloween night so be extra careful when walking around campus, especially on busy streets. And make sure not to get behind the wheel after drinking! A taxi to that off-campus party costs a lot less than your life. Uber is a great driving company that’s much cheaper comparable to taxis and there’s an app for it!
- If staying on a friends campus for the night, know where everything is! Be aware of where the dorm you’re staying in is, where the party is, the route to get there and back, and where Campus Police is. Get your friend’s roommate’s number too, or someone they rely on that you can trust. These tips are especially important on an unfamiliar campus.
- Watch out for any kids. Although most will be in bed all trick or treated out, some may still be lurking around.
- If you are throwing a party: have a plan if things go wrong. Collect keys and make sure you stay sober enough to keep an eye on things.
- Don’t let anyone leave a party (yours or someone else’s) that has had too much to drink. Making sure they get home safely may not be the funnest thing but it could save their life.
- Don’t wear anything that could be confused with a real weapon. Campus police will be out and extra careful on Halloween, so don’t wear anything or act in a way that they would be concerned. Both Campo and the student body don’t want to have to interact on Halloween, so don’t give them a reason to. This also avoids any confrontation you may have with other party goers over your choice of accessories.
Now, we have all heard about the dangers of Halloween night, without much experience to back up these claims of danger on October 31st. But here are a few reasons why you might want to take this list of tips and tricks seriously. One in four women will be a victim of sexual assault during her academic career. At least 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance of the victim. One out of eight women will be raped while in college. 70% of rape victims know their attackers. 57% of rape happens on a date. 75% of male students and 55% of female students involved in date rape were under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Every two minutes someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted and someone is raped every six minutes. These are all facts, not to instill fear, but to remind everyone that its better to be safe than sorry this Halloween.
Now go have fun! Stop by the Dollar Store and get that extra tube of eye liner glitter. Create a matching costume with your best friend. Eat every single Kit Kat bar you can find. Have fun and stay safe, Happy Halloween!!