Parties are a natural part of college, so let’s keep them fun by being safe. 

No one should have their night ruined by feeling anxious about their surroundings or about their friends’ safety. 

Public Safety is the main resource on campus for students in emergencies or with safety concerns. The Public Safety Office is located in Walker Hall and is open 24 hours for any student needing to reach out.

“We want to assist everyone in being safe through their college journey,” Tom Friend, the Assistant Director of Public Safety, said.

Halloween is one of the biggest times for parties, especially at universities. Students and their friends pick out costumes and celebrate it almost all week, if not the entire month of October.  

Halloween is on a Friday this year, which leaves all weekend for students to have fun. 

At Millikin, multiple events are happening this month to celebrate Halloween, including Boo at MU! and the annual Halloween! Percussion Ensemble. Both of these events are open to both the general public and the Millikin campus community. 

While these events are family-friendly, something you would attend with a parent or younger sibling, sometimes you need to spend time with your friends. A college party is the best place to do that, as long as you do it right. 

The biggest concern with college parties is the safety of students. Issues like overintoxication and sexual assault are prevalent at these parties, but they don’t have to be. Although not everything is preventable, there are steps that you can take to stay as safe as possible. 

Tips on staying safe at parties:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Keep an eye on your friends.
• Don’t go anywhere alone.
• Don’t leave with anyone you don’t know.
• Have a designated driver in your group.
• Don’t drink and drive.
• If you are too drunk to drive, then walk home. 
• Don’t get in a car with someone who has been drinking.
• Don’t take drinks from a stranger.
• Don’t leave your drink unattended.
• Don’t drink on an empty stomach.
• Trust your instincts.
• Don’t be afraid to say “no.”
• Know about emergency resources.

A good resource on campus is the drug Narcan, which is a drug that reverses an opioid overdose and takes effect in less than five minutes. There are free Narcan stations in both the University Commons and the health clinic on campus, along with instructions on how to use it. 

Even if you don’t drink or do drugs at a party, you can still have fun with your friends. But remember that your safety is the most important thing, and if you feel unsafe or unsure about a situation, then go somewhere you feel safe.

 “Just leave; find someplace else to be,” Friend said. “It’s better to be safe than to be somewhere you shouldn’t be when something bad happens.”

If there is an emergency, call 911 or Public Safety at (217) 464-8888. Public Safety’s main priority is to keep students safe, not to get them in trouble. 

“Don’t ever hesitate to contact our office, or security, or some other university official that’s known and trusted if something’s out of place,” Friend said.

These safety tips and resources are provided to help Millikin students have a safe and fun Halloween. Public Safety is the closest emergency service for students and is always there for any student with a concern.