Halloween in Pullman is notorious for being one of the biggest weekends of the year. Without the Apple Cup weekend to get our aggression out, this is the weekend stuff will go down, in any sense of the word.
It’s important to know how to deal with the madness that is a Cougar Halloween to keep yourself safe and healthy.
For those of you who are new here, know that almost  everyone will be drunk and absolutely everyone will be in a costume. Also know that “costume” is very loosely defined.
Sure the boys get to wear whatever they want (and some are rather clever), but most girls simply add a pair of heels and animal accessories to their cutest nightie and call it good (not that there’s anything wrong with this, do what you want; I will probably be following the same trend). “Mean Girls” said it best.
However, keep in mind that it’s going to be cold. Blooming cold, if the last few nights’ three blanket minimum have been any indication. On my last iPhone weather check, it told me that Friday night will get down to 40 degrees, Saturday down to 38, Sunday down to 41, and Monday, actual Halloween, will reach lows of 35 degrees f.
Needless to say, hobbling between parties might be a little more than your exposed legs and arms can take. This isn’t helped by any alcohol consumption, which can constrict your blood vessels, resulting in decreased blood flow to all parts of your body. This puts you at high risk for hypothermia, which severely reduces function to your vital organs, if you’re spending too much time outside.
And you might be popping in and out quite a bit after experiencing about fifteen minutes of the extreme sauna conditions of any party room across College Hill, but do try to stay out of the company of Jack Frost as much as possible.
Halloween weekend is the weekend all the stops are pulled out and fire codes go out the door. Some places get so packed that you can barely move, let alone dance or chat with your friends.
If you do manage to get a drink before they’ve run out and it hasn’t gotten spilled down your front, remember that tight situations make it easier for things to be slipped into that drink you had to fight through all the Batgirls, bunnies and bumblebees to get. The chance for sexual assault is higher in these kinds of situations.
We’ve all heard this lecture before but Halloween definitely calls for reiterations of our mothers’ warnings.
Never put your drink down, anywhere. If you do put your drink down, don’t pick it back up. That drink is dead to you. You have no idea what has happened to that drink since you put it down, maybe nothing, maybe something dangerous. A left keg cup is meant to be forever alone.
In that vein, also keep a general eye on your cup. Make sure you know where it’s coming from and you continue knowing where it’s going as it’s in your hand.
A few cups of jungle juice later and your inhibitions are down. It’s more apparent than you think. While maybe you feel that it may be time to go, your friends might not agree.
So, you decide to walk by yourself. The house isn’t that far, you’ll be fine.
Don’t do it. Please, just don’t. For me, don’t.
Halloween is the time of year for the hooligans to come out, masks hiding their faces and identities. Insist on the buddy system when you go out. Where they go, you go, and vice versa. This is also your bathroom buddy, your kuka duty partner and the one that holds your drink should you need both hands to put that cute guy’s number into your phone.
This is the weekend to have fun so don’t let an avoidable mistake ruin it for you. Stay safe, stay smart, don’t get in a fight, don’t walk alone and don’t be afraid to help a fellow human in need.
Be excellent to yourself and each other, Cougs. And Happy Halloween.