Promiscuity, controversy, and gore are everything about Halloween we college students adore. It is an opportunity to dress for fun and fright, wrapped up in one fun size night.

With those first three words defining the criteria of Halloween for many college students, it is impossible to avoid rousing spirits. Whether a costume shows too much skin, is drenched in blood, or hits one of society’s nerves someone will be offended.

I remember when I was in fourth grade I first encountered the issue of offending others with a costume. It was the first time I decided to dress as anything other than a ninja or a fireman. Instead I chose to take the daring route and be a zombie for Halloween.

When I got to school all ready to participate in the seasonal festivities I was told straight off to remove my costume because my plastic chest cavity was “too gory”.

I understand it was a fourth grade class and gore may be disturbing to the youth but it would not be a stretch to say that half of that class had seen violence and gore to the magnitude of “Die Hard” prior to that Halloween.

I also should not have expected to wear that costume into a school that referred to its quite obvious Halloween party as the “autumn festival”.

Nonetheless Halloween no longer puts to rest the spirits of the dead; instead it breeds controversial costumes.

This holiday is no more a celebration than it is an opportunity to assume another identity, show some skin, or make a joke.

College kids are eager to make a statement on Halloween, whether it’s “I’m available and I managed to make a cat outfit sexy” or “I know for a fact I’m the most original and hilarious person at this party”.

The problem with statements like those is that it leaves much to be desired in terms of subtlety and they can be taken to lengths that go beyond reasonable means of consideration.

It seems feasible that not everyone at a party wants to see that girl in the sexy kitten outfit bare it all to get herself a Halloween honey. On top of that, people may not be in love with the guy wearing the Caitlyn Jenner outfit.

There is the opposing side to this argument of empowering women who want to expose their bodies and I happily yield to that.

However, when it comes to an issue of free speech regarding insulting costumes, there comes a point where a costume can poison a party with bitter fights or repel people who otherwise would have had a quality time.

It does not take much to flip some people’s switches and the PC police are always on the prowl but above all else enjoy the only day it is entirely justified to wear a costume for everyone in America. Simply avoid spoiling it for anyone else because a statement had to be made.