Halloween is the time of the year where people get to be someone or something that they typically are not every day. Traditionally, people have dressed up as ghosts, goblins, ghouls, werewolves or other similar monsters and ghastly figures. Spooky and frightful were the themes.Popular culture has drastically influenced Halloween and popular costumes recently mimic pop culture. No doubt this Halloween will have a fair share of people dressed as Barack and Michelle Obama, characters from Transformers and G.I. Joe. However, 2009 may be remembered as the year of Vampires! Vampires have taken pop culture by storm with the popularity of “Twilight,” “TrueBlood” and the “Vampire Diaries.”
While Halloween is a fun and exciting time of the year, it is important that those wearing costumes keep in mind the venue that they plan to wear them. Most people enjoy costumes that are edgy and push the social envelope, whether they are voyeurs or those wearing them. I mean, who doesn’t find it funny to see a guy dressed up as a female cheerleader? Think twice about where you plan on going with your skirt and pom poms, John Doe. Increasingly with each passing Halloween, women get in touch with their “sexy” side. Yes, there is a large segment of the public that is going to gawk at those who show off their assets, whether that costume consists of lingerie, spandex, a mini skirt or what could vaguely be considered a top. Undoubtedly, attention is part of the reason some people wear these uniforms, and they are going to get it.
Northeastern is not the best place to wear those costumes. Treat school just as though you would your professional place of employment, please. Yes, you have a great costume. John, it’s hilarious that you’re dressed as the female cop from Super Troopers. Jane, your “sexy” catholic school girl outfit is perfect, right down to the mini skirt and knee highs. But you are distracting a lot of people in class who are there to get an education. Please, save these costumes for a party. NEIU is first and foremost an institution of higher learning and the impression that you leave with your peers and instructors will last a lifetime. As you near graduation and need a letter of recommendation for graduate school or a professional job, do you really want to ask that professor whose class you brought to a halt because of a Halloween costume?
Halloween is one of the few holidays that is all about fun and games. We tell children to be mindful of candy when trick or treating, and think of safety when choosing costumes. As an adult you should be cognizant of your costume even more so. That scandalous costume can leave lasting images that will forever haunt you.