The racks of clothes at Goodwill are bare, the wig section at Meijer is empty and the shelves of alcohol are looking dangerously low. In a college town, this can only mean one thing: Halloween weekend is approaching.

Halloween is a great chance for students to get a break from the craziness. For students, this may mean making a trip home to pass out candy or maybe it means hitting up the downtown bars for some spooky-themed fun. Whatever your choice of celebration is, we encourage you to take a second to yourself and eat three or four extra candy bars.

Although we want to encourage students to go out, have a good time and take part in Halloween festivities (let’s face it, we all need a break), we also want to encourage students to be aware of their behavior, especially if they are planning to drink.

Though it may seem as though the decisions that you make on the weekends at college aren’t really that big of a deal, the consequences of making reckless decisions can often affect more than just your headache the next morning.

Police departments aren’t dumb. They know that college kids drink and they know that they drink even more when they can do it in a costume. This being said, you may see more police out on patrol than normal. So, before you decide that Halloween seems like the perfect time to try and play Edward Fortyhands for the first time, think about the consequences that could follow.

Students, make safe and educated decisions this weekend. If you chose to drink, make sure to monitor the amount you are drinking and what you are drinking, look out for your friends and do not get behind the wheel of a car. Grand Rapids is full of Ubers, so split one with your friends and get home safely, we swear it’s worth the $5.

Remember the buddy system, and walk home with friends or ask a sober person to be your designated driver for the night. Walking down Pierce Street may not be the best option at 3 a.m. after a night of partying. If all else fails, leave early and take the bus home for free.

Sure, this is the time to play games and drink something new, if you choose to drink, but another aspect of control is respect. Just because someone is wearing a costume is not an invitation to touch or harass them. Consent is another important part of the party atmosphere, and ensuring respect for those at the party makes for a safe night of fun.

Before you pour another drink or enjoy more “Jungle Juice,” think about the impact of your choices. One night of partying is not worth ruining your education, a career, hurting yourself or possibly others all because of the contents inside your red Solo cup. Halloween is a tradition where people come together and celebrate, so let’s keep it safe and fun for everyone.