Halloween Message from the Division of Student Life
With Halloween approaching, I would like to take the opportunity to remind you to take your safety seriously. Though Halloween weekend can be a fun experience, the particularities of the holiday make individual safety an even more prevalent concern than on many other occasions. Engaging in excessive drinking, in combination with costumes and a general party atmosphere can contribute to dangerous situations. With this in mind, please consider taking these steps to be safe this Halloween:
- Choose a costume that does not completely obscure your identity. By ensuring that you and your friends can recognize each other, you can help watch out for each other.
- When choosing a costume, please remember to be respectful of our collective community. Choose a costume that does not seem degrading or offensive to others. Often times, costumes can be seen as offensive to individuals who identify with a race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or religion that is different from your own. Remember that the intention behind your costume could affect and impact others in a number of ways. Ask yourself “What message could this costume convey to others?” and “How can represent myself, as a Badger and as a person, in a less offensive manner?” Please be conscious of this as you select a costume for Halloween this year.
- If you choose to drink, do so in moderation, do so in an environment that is controlled, and stay in contact with your friends. Badgers are not bystanders. Watch out for your friends, and establish the expectation that they will do the same.
- If you or your friends are in a dangerous situation, contact the police. The recently adopted Responsible Action Guidelines state that student safety is the main concern of University officials, and that a cooperative witness or victim will not have sanctions placed upon them for use of alcohol unless there are aggravating factors.
- Cooperate with police direction. This could range from avoiding certain parts of State Street so they can be granted emergency access up to a situation in which you may face a citation. If MPD issues an underage drinking ticket, the fine is $177. The quickest route from that amount to a $429 disorderly conduct ticket is by being disrespectful to a police officer.
As always, watch out for each other. Enjoy Halloween weekend and hit the books on Sunday.
