Opinion
Scary alternatives for Halloween adventures
October 28, 2011
Well, it’s that time of year again; it’s almost time for Halloween! This is the time of year when people dress up and party the night away. At least, that’s what most college kids everywhere are doing.
Halloween is a time for tricks and a time for treats. It is also a time where young adults get rather drunk, which leads to accidents and arrests. Come on people, we all get the same lecture every year, and yet there are some of us that still go hog wild. Can we find
a balance between having fun while staying safe at the same time?
When we were little, we went out trick-or-treating with our parents. It was a blast! Those were the good old days filled with tons of candy and fun costumes. Middle school and high school came along, and we started going out with friends to PG-13 parties. There was lots of food, fun kissing games, and boy girl sleepovers.
Now, we’re all in college. We dress in “grown up” costumes and see how much we can drink. OK, not all college students do this, but more than half do. And then, there is the huge Halloween blowout in Madison. Going to parties, having a ball, then trying to find a house or a dorm room to fall asleep in... what’s the point? Granted, I’m sure it is awesome at the time. However, cops are also on the watch.
A friend of mine invited me to come to Madison this year, but I said no way. I feel uneasy about going to a place that I’m not familiar with, and I’m expected to party all night. No, thank you! We need to learn how to be responsible on Halloween night. Things like going everywhere in a group, watching our drinks, and not getting too sloppy are all good tips for staying safe, no matter where we are.
You have to admit that Halloween tends to bring out the weirdoes. Big cities, like Madison, as well as small cities, like River Falls, are bound to have them. Some people just get plain stupid and take their antics out on the innocent passersby.
There is a great alternative to going out though; a way to avoid all of the hoopla. Instead of going to a party, watch scary movies with friends! Personally, it is my favorite thing to do on Halloween. Go to the video store, or hit up Netflix, if you have it. The best movies to watch are the old horror movies from the 1960s and the 1970s. A great movie is “Psycho.” It’s a classic.
Next, go buy junk food or order pizza, and let the fun begin! Turn off all the lights, and start with the scariest movie of the bunch. I’d much rather have a night in on Halloween, getting scared to death, than go to a crowded party where I most likely don’t know anyone.
Staying safe on Halloween is very important. If you’re going out, be smart, and be safe. If you don’t feel like going out, have a fun night in. What will it be? Getting your pants scared off by an old movie, or getting your pants scared off by some random creep on the street? Happy Halloween!
Samantha Harkness is a journalism major at UW-River Falls. She loves reading, writing and watching movies.