Phoebe Young, Staff Writer
With Halloween just around the corner, it is important to be aware of possible dangers the holiday may present. Halloween weekend can be very fun but can also include lots of monsters much greater than bedsheet ghosts and plastic skeletons. I spoke with Public Safety officer Jared Cunningham about some things to be cautious of and one of the main occurrences he listed was vehicular accidents. “On Halloween there are a lot of people on the road in costume or dressed in black,” he states, “the most important thing is to be aware of what’s going on.”
Cunningham advises that drivers slow down and pay close attention to their surroundings in order to avoid accidents. He also reminds students that they do have resources to stay safe this Halloween if they are on campus. “If you see anything out of the ordinary or you’re uncomfortable on Halloween, you can contact public safety 24/7 as usual and they will be happy to look into it,” Cunningham assures. The phone number for public safety is (360)438-4555. Other available resources Cunningham listed that are open to students on Halloween include the residence life staff, such as RAs, and the campus life staff at Saint Martin’s.
Parties of all sorts are also common on Halloween. Saint Martin’s is a dry campus, meaning that substance use of any kind is not permitted nor encouraged at any time. However, if you are of age and plan to participate in drinking off campus, ensure that you do so safely by taking precautionary measures. This may include but is not limited to having a designated driver, eating before consuming alcohol, drinking in moderation, being aware of what you are consuming, never accepting any drinks from strangers, and as is always the case, only driving if you are entirely sober. Still, the easiest and most effective way to ensure your safety is to avoid alcohol entirely.
In the event of any type of gathering, be aware that COVID-19 is still very prevalent and large gatherings put you at risk of exposure. A few safety tips from the Washington State Department of Health include being sure to always wear a mask, social distance when it is possible, avoid gatherings with lots of people, staying home if you are sick or have been recently exposed to COVID-19, and making sure to wash your hands and use hand sanitizer regularly. Further general party safety may include covering your drink, arriving and leaving with a group you trust, and always telling someone where you are going.
Aside from personal get-togethers, there is a multitude of safe and fun activities to join in on in the area this Halloween to get into the spirit of the spooky season. On Oct. 31, Campus Life will be hosting the Saints Pumpkin Bash in the Trautman Union Building from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The bash will consist of Trunk-Or-Treat, exciting games, fun prizes, and a costume contest. The costume contest will be held at 2:30 p.m. and involves big prizes. This event is open to SMU students and faculty as well as the Lacey community, so be sure to attend.
Other activities occurring off campus include My Morbid Mind Haunted House on Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 4548 Marvin Road SE. Tickets can be bought at https://mymorbidmind.com/ or at the door. You can also visit a variety of pumpkin patches such as Schilter Family Farm which is open daily until 8 p.m. through Oct. 31 which offers pumpkins, great food, a giant corn maze, and more. No matter how you choose to spend your holiday weekend, be sure to stay safe, have fun, and have a ghoulishly good time!
The Belltower 