Once again, the time of the year has come for everyone to pick out their costumes, bring out the treats and have a good ol’ time in Ann Arbor. And yet, as females walk down South University wearing "sexy” costumes and people think it's entertaining to dress up as Native Americans, it is vital to address the ignorance of Halloween.

What is easily forgotten in the cloud of excitement and inebriation is the trouble Halloween generates. Centered on disguises, Oct. 31 is seen by many as an excuse to cause mischief in the name of good-natured fun. But Halloween often gives students permission to assume a personality that offends other communities and identities. There are serious implications involved when a person is having a “good time” with an unacceptable costume. Few understand the ramifications of a holiday that often uses this alternate reality to descend into racism and hypersexualizaiton.

The irresponsible racist actions that Halloween sometimes prompts are not just seen at this University, but on other campuses as well. The University of Texas Law School faced this issue in 2006, when students hosted a "Ghetto Fabulous" costume party. This party displayed stereotypical black and Latino names, apparel and objects. When pictures surfaced on the Internet, there was outrage amongst the black and Latino communities. But the problem was not properly resolved, and students who had participated in the event were given a simple warning. Dean of the University of Texas School of Law Larry Sager recalled that it was “understandable that students could innocently misbehave in this way,” according to a Nov. 2, 2006 Associated Press article. To the targeted black and Latino community, this response was wrong and inconsiderate. To state that it was understandable for adult law students to have “innocently” misbehaved is unacceptable. The law students weren’t little kids — they knew what they were doing.

In spite of the fact that there are some responses on college campuses that consent to offensive actions shown on Halloween, there are signs of improvement. At the University of Richmond, after a student saw an unknown person in blackface who portrayed himself as an African American, University President Edward Ayers stated that the racial incident had “no place on this campus.” Though there was no direct punishment to the offender because of his anonymity, there was an acknowledgment by Ayers that strengthening stereotypes of a certain group is unethical.

But racism isn't Halloween's only negative result. Overtly sexual Halloween costumes are the trend for many women because the media portrays that as desirable. Scantily clad women perpetuate gender stereotypes that depict women as objects subject to the male gaze. Though women should have the right to feel sexually liberated, which might be the intention of wearing a “sexy” costume, they should be prepared for males to react accordingly.

It’s important for the University of Michigan to forewarn students that, among other reprehensible actions, Halloween makes it easier to commit acts of vandalism and to reinforce damaging stereotypes without fear of repercussions due to their shrouded identity. As college students, we should be competent enough to be fully aware of our actions and their consequences. It is our duty to build a safe campus community during Halloween, and that requires a deeper analysis of the holiday.

Tonight, Fighting Obstacles Knowing Ultimate Success (FOKUS) is presenting ART-I-FAKTS: HALLO (WHAT?!), a student art showcase and reception that will illustrate, examine and question all the aspects of Halloween — not just the negative ones. The event is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kelsey Museum and is free to the public. Come prepared to decorate pumpkins, engage in dialogue and vibe to the sounds of DJ Professor Purple and DJ Seek Selekta while perusing our art display.

Felix Lopez is a member of FOKUS.