There are certain weeks in a student’s experience that are inherently “college” — weeks such as Homecoming Week, Dead Week and “Halloweek.”
From Labor Day to Thanksgiving, breaks and days spent away from the classroom are few and far between.
Halloween just so happens to fall right in the middle of this dry spell, bringing a very needed dose of fun and excitement to an otherwise hectic period in the fall semester.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
So, it makes sense then that many college students plan to utilize the Halloweek as a way to relax and let loose.
Though Halloweekend has come and gone, the festivities and costume contests often last throughout the week. So, students should proceed with caution as Halloween events unfold on campus and around the community.
For many students, the Halloween festivities 10 years ago meant trick-or-treating and consuming copious amounts of candy, but now, it often means party hopping and consuming copious amounts of alcohol. The way we celebrate a holiday simply changes with age. However, in order to keep Halloween more treat than trick, students should remember to have fun within their limits and help others do the same.
The best way to stay in control is by keeping track of one another. Without even realizing it, the “buddy system” that many students learned years ago is one of the most effective ways of not getting into too much trouble during holidays like Halloween. If a student plans to celebrate with friends during their Halloween outings, it is important to stay with one another and make sure that everyone settles safely into their bed by the end of the night, especially with classes and tests the next morning.
Although the holiday comes at a time when students require some extra rest and relaxation, those pesky classes still have to get in the way. There are only so many more weeks until fall break, so students should keep plugging along and chipping away at projects and textbook chapters. Once Halloween is over, grab some leftover candy and hop back on the academic train before it reaches Thanksgiving and is too late to find enough study time.
Along with respecting one’s alcohol tolerance and class schedule, it is important to remember to respect the rest of Moscow’s community members celebrations as well. Tuesday evening will bring out young trick-or-treaters and families with multiple costumed little ones to keep track of. While we stick with our party-going friends, let’s make sure to keep everyone else safe as well.
Perhaps one of the best aspects of Halloween is picking a very Instagram-worthy costume for a night out. Through all of the costume ideas and excitement, it can be easy to forget the possible negative implications of one’s costume. In a divisive political and cultural climate, take a moment to think about that carefully planned costume and attempt to alleviate anything outright offensive or derogatory.
No matter how a student celebrates Halloween, just remember to stay safe and sound throughout the week.
— HS