Just a Bunch of Hocus Pocus
The following message was sent to all students on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” – Macbeth
Wickedly so, Halloween arrives this week accompanied by a possible nor’easter. No storm system will stand in the way of a BU students’ celebratory revelry (this I know), so I won’t use this space to encourage a quiet night at home watching Hitchcock movies (though that is my plan). You’ll be out and about, dressed in costume, doing what college students do (safely).
Before heading out, memorize this spell for a good night:
- Buddy up, Ghostbusters. Make sure your friends get home safely, be aware of people acting in a way that may harm you, and remember our Good Samaritan Policy, which means you can get help without getting in trouble, even if you’re under 21. Always have the number for Boston University Police Department in your phone (617-353-2121).
- Beware of the random person dressed as Dracula. Don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t know. Get your own, keep it covered, and set limits for yourself.
- Mind the GAP. Boston Police have been monitoring the GAP to address noise complaints and other behaviors that our non-BU neighbors don’t appreciate. If you travel west, be respectful of the peace and property of others. (Check out this message from Boston PD, too.)
- Keep costumes respectful: another person’s culture, and replica or toy weapons are not accessories. Rethink your choices and avoid missteps.
Those are my notes for a proper midnight dreary. Keep the night full of stories worth retelling, not scares we’d rather forget.
Take care,
Jason Campbell-Foster, Ed.D.
Dean of Students