As Halloween weekend approaches, the City of Athens and Ohio University are taking steps to ensure the safety of students, visitors and locals.
For the city, Halloween preparation began in late August, when the city determined street shutdowns, the vendor program and where the stage will be located.
Scheduled events include an uptown kids event in collaboration with the Athens Arts, Parks and Recreation Department, a parade, neighborhood trick-or-treating and the annual block party featuring live bands.
To ensure safety during those events, the APD requested external help, according to Nick Magruder, chief of police of the Athens Police Department.
“We asked for a couple extra mounted law enforcement officers to come, so the horses, to help with crowd control if we needed, and we asked a couple agencies to send some foot officers,” Magruder said.
This year, the police department requested eight foot officers, a significantly lower number than a decade ago.
“10 years ago, we would have been asking for 50 of each,” said Magruder. “It’s really tamed down. It’s been a lot better event the last couple years.”
Magruder attributed the decrease to the shifting mindset of students and the community. Nonetheless, Magruder said the department still expects a large influx of people this year.
Laws regarding open containers and public intoxication are still in effect, and the APD is prepared to make arrests, according to Magruder. However, Magruder said Halloween arrests have decreased significantly since the early 2000s.
The university also has policies in place to mitigate issues on Halloween.
Anna Grace Barrett, a sophomore studying journalism and a resident assistant in Jefferson Hall, said RAs are required to hold meetings with their residents to outline Halloween weekend policies ahead of time.
According to Samantha Pelham, media relations manager for University Communications and Marketing, both students living in residence halls and their guests must wear identifying wristbands and register their guests ahead of time. Students must register their guests by Oct. 19 and pay a $50 guest fee charged to their student account.
Wristbands will be distributed at all residence halls on Oct. 29, from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for residents only. The following day, both residents and guests can collect wristbands between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. RAs are required to check for wristbands before an individual enters their residence hall.
Barrett advised students and visitors on how to stay safe during the weekend.
“Always carry your ID on you, your student ID and your federal ID so that anyone can identify you,” Barrett said. “Do not leave your door unlocked for your dorm… keep your key on you at all times. Keep your phone on you at all times.”
Magruder also emphasized students and visitors should be cautious, stay in groups and be aware of their surroundings.
“When your friends come down, make sure they know the address they're staying at, what their house looks like, things like that,” said Magruder. “One of the biggest issues we come across is people just don't know where they're at because they're in an unfamiliar area.”
