In the Oct. 31 issue of The Post, Rebecca McKinsey and fellow Athenians discussed the perceived tameness of the 2011 Ohio University Halloween festivities. She, along with county officials, believed the block party was more passive this year in part to the less-than-stellar weather conditions. I believe, however, the docility of the event was due to police awareness and the “Be Smart. Be Civil. Be Safe.” campaign presented to the students, courtesy of OU.
In years past, students witnessed numerous altercations with Athens (and surrounding area) police department(s). These altercations, along with the abundant police presence Halloween night, presented students with a choice: Be smart or be arrested.
In 2009, police officers made 163 arrests, and in 2010, 213 arrests were made — primarily for possession of illegal substances or underage drinking. This year however, 148 arrests occurred (a decrease of 30 percent). According to McKinsey, 17 of the arrests were OU students. I assert, OU students were more aware of their actions and the consequences that result from poor choices — hence, fewer arrests and more civility during Halloween 2011.
I am a senior at OU and have observed actions initiated by the university and police to deter chaos. These include students forced to the ground for not cooperating with the police and others arrested for carrying an open container of alcohol. Arrests decreased because students have become keenly aware of police activities and their no-tolerance policies.
I do not believe students drank less or partied “less hard,” but I do believe they were more discreet, resulting in a calmer Halloween. Police enforcement and the repetitive notion of “Be Smart. Be Civil. Be Safe.” encouraged students and visitors to be aware of their actions, resulting in a safer Halloween.
Dayna Dachner is a senior studying integrated language arts.
