With Halloween celebrations starting already, it is important to keep a few things in mind.
We all want to have a good time, but sometimes that can lead to unsafe situations. During UMass Amherst Homecoming celebrations last weekend Amherst police and fire departments reported that they attended more calls than they had in a single weekend since Halloween in 2015. Because Halloween is barely a week following these incidents it’s especially important that everyone stay safe and aware of their surroundings.
Here are some general guidelines to have a safe Halloweekend.
1. Listen to the UMPD and Amherst Police.
There aren’t “out to get you” and they don’t want to get everyone in trouble. It is their job to make sure students and residents in the surrounding area are safe. Be honest and cooperative with the officers, they really do have your well being in mind.
2. Follow University Policy.
The guest policies state that you can sign in 4 guests, two of which may be from outside UMass. Of those 4, only two may stay overnight. There are already about 20,000 undergraduate students at UMass, that’s a lot of people to keep safe. While it may seem like a good idea to sneak extra people in, it makes it that much harder for UMPD and security to keep everyone safe.
3. If you’re over 21, watch your drinks.
Any parties this weekend are bound to be more crowded than usual, which means more people and more distractions. Always know exactly where your drinks come from and never let them out of your sight.
4. If you aren’t 21, you shouldn’t be drinking.
I get it, “it’s college.” Just don’t be stupid. It’s illegal, so officers and security have every right to question you if they suspect you might be making irresponsible and potentially dangerous decisions. Just be honest and cooperative, they're protecting you.
5. Don’t paint your face or wear a mask.
Going on clown hunts with hockey sticks may have been fun last year, but our world gets more dangerous every day. It’s University policy that you be identifiable at all times, so while masks and face paint might be fun, they’re unfortunately off limits. This rule is to keep us safe. I hate to bring up terrorism, but Halloween is the easiest holiday for people to get away with minor and major crimes. This rule keeps students accountable and helps with identification if something unfortunate does happen.
6. Use the buddy system.
While UMass is definitely a pretty safe campus, there will be lots of people visiting from other schools and even states. Try not to walk alone in the dark. You can always find a bus to take, call a friend or loved one on the phone, or stay over where you are if University policy allows. Your safety is more important than trekking back to your own bed at the end of the night.
I hope everyone has a great weekend, but more importantly I hope everyone has a safe weekend! I know rules can be annoying, but they are there for a reason. Be aware of your surroundings, follow campus policies, and listen to law enforcement. You don’t want to spend your weekend in a hospital or police department, that would suck.
