How to stay safe this Halloween

This Halloween is unlike any other. The culture has changed and there’s more danger than ever. Just last month, a person was shot in Allston, and let’s not forget the clowns. Halloween is no longer the safe haven it was when we dressed up as our favorite Power Ranger and traded our candy at the end of the night.

This Halloween, it’s vital to keep these tips in mind (while still enjoying your themed cocktails).

If you see a clown: Run

I’m not joking. I don’t care if this clown craze is real, a hoax, or a political statement, if you see a clown you get as far away as possible. Halloween is the time copy cats make appearances and it only takes one person to go insane for this clown trend to turn lethal. Even if the clown looks friendly, you can’t trust those smiley creatures these days. Don’t be the victim of a halloween crime; it’s too cliche.

Dress in layers

I’m not saying you have to commit the heinous crime of cultural appropriation and be an eskimo, but wear layers. This is Boston and is your half-naked outfit really worth missing a week of classes because you have pneumonia? Put on cheap layers and hide them in whatever basement you decide to party at that night. Goodwill has awesome costumes and accessories for cheap so you can stay warm in style and not ruin the illusion you’re a cat. Cats don’t wear NorthFace jackets but put on a furry coat and nobody will know the difference.

Stay away from the fake guns

It’s very easy to get disillusioned on Halloween. If you see somebody dangerous, you may assume they are dressed up as a street rat, but in reality they may be just that. Fake guns in recent years have been modeled to look exactly like the real thing. If you spot one, don’t take the naive guess that it’s fake; be smart and get yourself out of the situation immediately.

Don’t wear a costume that will piss someone off

Cultural appropriation, whether you agree with it or not, causes problems. If you took Spanish for a year and decide to dress up as Dia De Los Muertos then be prepared to get yelled at by an angry international student from Spain. If you want to wear a kimono but you’re not Asian, it might get ripped off your body at the end of the night. A good idea on any given night is to not piss off drunk students. Although it’s hard to not offend anyone nowadays, try to find a costume that keeps the peace.

Don’t stay out too late

I know this one sounds like an overprotective mother, but I’m serious. Halloween is a dangerous night where many get too drunk and decide that it’s a night they can play out their psychotic fantasies with minimal consequences. It’s acceptable to wear masks and carry around dangerous items on this night, so call it quits earlier than you normally would. Getting in an Uber is also a risky move considering the amount of drunk drivers that could be out late at night. Get home early, buy some chocolate, and talk about your crazy and successful night out with your friends that ended safely in your dorms.

Halloween is the most fun and yet most dangerous holiday of the year, so avoid the tricks and welcome the treats the night has to offer.