Dear Students,

Halloween is right around the corner, and there are many fun and exciting events planned. We all want you to enjoy yourselves if you take part in any of the festivities, but we also want to remind you that it’s important to be safe and inclusive while celebrating.

Be safe! Have a plan when you socialize and stay in control.

• Stay in groups or use the buddy system.
• Be aware of your surroundings and do not get distracted by your cell.
• See and be seen. If wearing a costume that includes a mask, consider not donning your mask until you reach your location. Don’t display or carry items that could be confused for a dangerous item or weapon.
• Download the RPI Alert Safety App through Everbridge

For a full list of personal safety tips, visit the Public Safety website.

Be inclusive! As a diverse and global community, our cultural celebrations often include dressing in costume. Please recognize the difference between celebrating culture and appropriating another’s culture. If you are planning to dress in a costume, take time to educate yourself about what that costume might mean to a fellow student’s family heritage and customs. Consider the following tips:

• Avoid wearing a costume that represents a particular race, ethnicity, or faith (unless it’s your own).
• Do not paint your face or skin to depict the pigment of another race or ethnicity.
• Wearing clothing that may have sacred or significant value to another’s heritage may disrespect the practices and values of those cultural groups.
• Depicting historical, fictional, or mythical figures who may have caused harm to various cultural groups may negatively affect members of our community.

Have fun! And consider checking out a new haunted house experience right here in Troy at the Arts Center of the Capital Region.

Sincerely,

Dean Ryan
(Ryan J. Keytack, Dean of Students)

Cat Phllips
135th President of the Union

Vivan Rost-Nasshan
158th Grand Marshal