Students need to be mindful of community this Halloween

As students celebrate Halloween this weekend, they should be mindful that they also share Vermillion with children, families and elderly community members.

Time and time again, drinking culture is cited as a major problem at college campuses around the country. Halloween seems to be a catalyst to push for heavier drinking, especially when it falls on a weekend like it does this year.

Alcohol abuse has obvious dangers like increased automobile accidents, decreased health of individuals and correlation with higher rates of assault.

College students often justify their drinking by alluding to the fact they do all they can to avoid these negative side effects.

They find a sober ride before a night of heavy drinking or they walk away from a potential fight that could ensue to avoid confrontation. They adopt a mentality that they are doing no harm by choosing to spend a night drinking and partying.

These precautions seem like they would alleviate the concerns of the community-at-large regarding the drinking habits of local college students, but this is not always the case.

For many, college students are seen as inconsiderate and allow their drinking to be a hindrance to the proper enjoyment of the cities they live in by all members of the community.

Vermillion, as a case study, seems to be dominated by USD students. It is often overlooked that Vermillion is also home to young families, small children, high school students, the elderly and everything in between.

Because of its rural, small-town setting, Vermillion offers a heightened level of interaction between USD students and other members of the community. Other universities might be situated in big cities and may have more geographical separation from other segments of the community causing the problem of annoyance to be diminished.

The University of California-Los Angeles, for example, is situated in Westwood where the area is almost exclusively home to students of the university and businesses.

The University of Nevada-Las Vegas is situated near the center of the city close to the Las Vegas strip, while families tend to live on the outer edges of the Las Vegas valley.

Halloween is not just a catalyst for more alcohol consumption by college students, but it is also a catalyst for increased community involvement by children and families.

Trick-or-treating is an American tradition as much as any other staple of our culture. Children are out in the community with their families walking around almost side-by-side with college students. Children will be out seeing what we do, as students, and hearing what we say.

This Halloween, students should remember they are part of the Vermillion community and they should treat the community with respect.

Do not go loudly marching through residential neighborhoods after a night of Halloween drinking, as is often the case outside of the bars downtown.

Do not use profanity or crude language when children and families are present.

Do not get intoxicated to the point where bad decisions are more likely to be made. Avoid drinking to the point where public vomiting or urination seems like a viable option. Avoid drinking to the point where an atmosphere of increased sexual assault and battery is likely to ensue.

It is also important to remember the rules that are seen as second-nature and make sure that complacency does not hinder following these rules.

Do not drive drunk, under any circumstance. Even one drink is too much to get behind the wheel. It is not worth the risk.

Do not invade the privacy of another individual. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, but remember to be lawful with all conduct.

Do not drink if you are under the legal drinking age.

Halloween is a time for fun for college students and the community at large. Lets work to make an environment of mutual respect between USD students and other residents of Vermillion. Please enjoy your weekend, drink responsibly and be respectful.