Story by Jessica Ridgway
In the past, Halloween was the one night each year when it became socially acceptable to get candy from strangers. Children of all ages, even seniors in high school (no shame, I was one of them), dressed up in costumes to roam the neighborhoods searching for the house that handed out the biggest and best candy bars, shunning the one that gave out the apples. It was always a night of fright, delight, and stomach aches.
Then I came to college.  Everything changed. For the readers that haven’t experienced a college-style Halloween, here are some tips and guidelines to prepare you for the celebration.

1. Halloween in college lasts more than one night. Generally, students begin partying the night before Halloween and continue until Monday. This year, Halloween falls on a Monday, so be prepared for an extra-long weekend.
2. Candy is replaced with alcohol. All kinds of alcohol.
3. And if you want candy you should wait until after Halloween, when it’s all on clearance.
4. If you have ever seen the movie Mean Girls, you probably remember the scene where Lindsay Lohan describes Halloween as “the one night a year when girls can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” This holds true in college. Be prepared to see skimpy and see-through and enough animal ears to start your own zoo. (You’ll have an entire exhibit dedicated to black cats!)
5. Campus turns into a giant block party. This is awesome for the drunken wanderers, but for the honorable hosts daring to throw a house party that weekend, it can be a nightmare. Be wary of your guests, and avoid having an open-door policy. A house with too many people shuffling in and out is a dead giveaway to the police.
6. Speaking of the police… they will be everywhere. Eugene is infamous for its Halloween weekend, so a large number of Portland police officers spend their weekend with us.
7. Having multiple costumes is optional – but highly recommended. I suggest saving your best costume (the one you spent money on) for Halloween night.  Makeshift outfits from your closet work for the other days.
8. Sadly, there is no trick-or-treating. I, however, think that trick-or-treating would be beneficial for college students, because you would meet your neighbors.  Here’s an idea, you could network, and everyone could get free candy!
9. Don’t forget to check out the activities on campus! Every year there is a pancake breakfast in the EMU. One year, there was a free concert in the amphitheater! Don’t walk to campus if you’re beyond belligerent though – campus police will spot you immediately, even if you don’t think they can catch you.

Alright kids, there you have it – the guidelines to surviving Halloween weekend. Have fun!  Remember, that Halloween is supposed to be a little scary, so embrace the fright whether it’s from ghosts and ghouls or running from the cops. Happy Halloween!