Staff Writer- Evangelyn Hill
October 31st: a day that children nationwide have been looking forward to all year. A day of costumed and sugar-fueled shenanigans.
It’s a day so special that even such mature and grown-up people as college students deign to join in the chaos. I succumbed to the temptation myself–I’m writing this article with a Kit-Kat in hand.
Gustavus students should keep two things in mind this Halloween weekend: how to stay safe, and how to have fun. I’ll start with safety, but stay tuned for campus event information.
While Halloween is a fun and joyous occasion, it can also pose risks, particularly for students who choose to go off campus and visit parties or bars.
Part of Gustavus’s campus support team is the Gustie Well, also known as the Peer Assistant Office. The Peer Assistants (PAs) have tips for how to navigate this Halloween weekend safely if you do choose to leave campus.
Kendra Stanton and Annabel Pautsch, both PAs, explained that a large portion of their role as PAs is education.
First, they want students to know about the campus resources available to them. If you do choose to go out, the Gus Bus is an invaluable resource for getting back to campus safely.
The Gus Bus runs Friday and Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. to locations around campus and St. Peter. Call (888) 880-4696 to ask for pickup, though they stop accepting calls at 1:45 a.m..
More information about the Gus Bus – including pickup locations – can be found on the Student Senate page on the Gustavus website.
Second, Stanton and Pautsch listed some harm reduction strategies to keep yourself safe if you do choose to drink, on or off campus.
Make sure you eat and hydrate before and while you’re drinking. Pace your consumption–Stanton and the PAs tell students to drink “slow and steady” instead of binge drinking.
Make sure you know where your drink is coming from, never mix cannabis or caffeine with alcohol, stick with your friends, and make sure you have a safe ride back to campus, such as the Gus Bus.
And finally, know that it’s absolutely fine to say no to a drink–or to simply leave the event if you don’t feel comfortable anymore. Trust your instincts.
Third, the PAs explained their role in helping students who are drinking underage or unsafely. An option for these students is going into the GustieWell for education programming with the PAs.
Stanton emphasized that the PAs are not “mad at you” if you come in for alcohol education. They want to create a non-judgmental, non-threatening environment that helps students make “informed, low-risk decisions.”
Pautsch clarified that she and Stanton don’t bring this up as a scare tactic, but simply to help students know what to expect if they end up in that situation. The PAs are there to give students someone to talk to, peer-to-peer, in hopes of preparing them to make safer future decisions.
Keeping all the safety tips in mind, don’t forget that Halloween’s purpose is to have fun. And if you opt to stay on campus for Halloween night, you’re in luck–there are several events over Halloween weekend for students to enjoy.
Trick-or-Treating may seem a forbidden activity now that we’re not children. But President Volin will be hosting trick-or-treating at the president’s house, located on the western end of campus, by Beck Hall and Hollingsworth Field, between 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Friday, the 31st.
Later that evening, the Campus Activities Office is hosting a Halloween dance party and costume contest. Head to Alumni Hall at 9 p.m. on Friday, the 31st, to join in the fun and show off your spectacular costume.
Partway through the evening, costume contest prizes will be awarded. Prizes include a JBL speaker, Lego set, Gustavus sweatshirt, and –for the grand prize– a TV.
The next day, Saturday, November 1st, come and join Halloween bingo at 8:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Once again, prizes will be available for the winners (laundry essentials, fun socks, a speaker, and more.
Whatever events you attend this Halloween weekend, have fun and stay safe, Gusties!