Western Courier

Issue date: 10/30/09 Section: Opinion

Skylar Patridge/cartoonist

It's that time of year again, the annual holiday that allows each of us to dress as inappropriately as we please, hiding ourselves behind a mask and a few scraps of fabric.

Halloween gives every girl the chance to reveal her inner pin-up goddess, and every guy the opportunity to feast his eyes on an endless buffet of naughty schoolgirls, nurses and Little Red Riding Hoods.

At this time in our lives, we have moved far beyond the quaint practice of roaming our neighborhoods like gangs of scavengers and begging neighbors for a couple of Milky Ways and some candy corn. Instead, our treats are more often a dozen beers or a dive in barrel of jungle juice, which often leads to our tricks being followed by a huge pile of regrets when we wake up in a strange place next to that guy who was dressed like a zombie-fied Michael Jackson or that girl in the French maid outfit.

Campus Confidential would like to take a serious turn this week and offer you a few things to remember when going out for Halloween:

Always travel with a friend.

Walking near or through campus alone on a regular night can be dangerous enough; the added element ofcostumes and masks can up the risk. Having a friend with you can help to deter any would-be attackers from making their move.

Be sure to carry protection.

Halloween night can be fun, but it is important to be smart as well as careful enough so that you don't end up in a bad situation. No matter how much fun you might think it is for Lady Gaga to sleep with former president George W. Bush at the time, it could be a completely different story when their odd coupling results in pregnancy or a sexually transmitted disease due to lack of responsibility and protection.

Carry your cell phone.

There may come a point in the evening when you are ready to call it a night, but no one else is, or are in no shape to be walking or driving home, or you have found yourself in a position you don't want to be in. Having your own means of communication can provide you with a way to get back to your home. Be sure to program the number of the taxi service in your phone before you head out for the evening.

I don't mean to be the Grim Reaper and ruin your holiday fun, but it is important to remember who you are under the makeup and cheap wig. Halloween is one night, but its consequences can last forever.

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