Spooky times call for extra precaution, especially since Halloween is a time of high risk for college students.
Students should make sure to have their costumes, coats and friends close by when partaking in weekend festivities.
The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Committee, composed of Senior Coordinator of Student Involvement and Well-Being Emily Alexander and Assistant Dean of Students Kat Dougherty, representatives from the Wellness Center, Campus Safety, faculty members and the Community Living Director, has “aimed to create a well-rounded set of resources for the students and a good environment on campus,” according to Kat Dougherty.
Dougherty, head of the AOD committee, brought up her worries about the dangers of alcohol around this particular holiday, “There has been an uptick in experimentation around the Halloween holiday. A lot can happen when alcohol is overconsumed, making for more incidents.” Dougherty encouraged those who find themselves in a situation where they feel they or someone they know has overconsumed to let an authority know.
Dougherty said, “If you have plans this Halloween weekend, make sure friends know and are informed of the details, make sure to have a buddy, have a way home, and know your limit.”
Alexander said, “Since around holidays like Halloween students are more likely to choose to interact with risky behaviors.”
The Stall Street Journal is a new newsletter created by the AOD that provides wellness tips to help students. Some of those tips include, “Set yourself a drinking limit before social drinking occasions, don’t accept a drink if you don’t know what it is, alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic beverages, find alternative activities that don’t include drinking or using drugs.”
These stall journals can be found in the student center bathrooms. As stated on the poster, the tip of the month is to stay hydrated.
Clare Moylan, a first-year student, plans to go out to a few parties. When going out, she said she “tries to be cautious but not overly paranoid.”
Reilly Salvador, a senior, has yet to decide to go out for Halloween, but she said that when she goes out, “I am not concerned about being unsafe. I plan to be very safe with friends and with people I choose to be around, and to go to and from places with said group.”
Sophomore Libby LaBianca plans to go out to some fraternity houses this Halloweekend. She stated she is concerned about going out when it’s getting dark, especially as a woman.
An Oct. 30, 2015 article from Huffington Post offers tips on how to stay safe while having fun during college Halloween activities.
“Whenever you feel uncomfortable, get out, listen to your instincts, be alert, and make sure to have a fully charged phone … you could become stranded if your cell phone battery runs low.”
Additionally, the article stated, “Assault, alcohol poisoning, and illegal substance ingestion can sometimes run rampant around college campuses during Halloween and oftentimes they occur at higher rates than the average student might realize.”
Katie Aguilar can be contacted at
