How Students are Celebrating Halloween
FREDERICTON, NB – The second Halloween during the pandemic feels a lot different than the last. While bars are open and nearly everyone in the St. Thomas and UNB community is vaccinated, the province again asked us to refrain from large group gatherings. This caused many students to be frustrated. Students feel as though they did their part by getting vaccinated and basically giving up a whole school year of the university life-style. With masks being mandatory and the pandemic feeling never-ending, it has caused different views on moving forward through this second year.
“So I’m not celebrating Halloween this year, I’m studying for my LSAT but I think it’s insanely irresponsible that people are still partying. We’re in the middle of a pandemic and it’s not over anytime soon so I’m staying in and you should too”, said Emma Wegner, a fourth-year student at St. Thomas. Wegner said she was grateful to be back on campus this year and to be able to celebrate Halloween on Friday by wearing her devil horns.
Students who wore Halloween costumes on campus Friday, were invited to gather in the upper-campus courtyard picture. There were students all decked out in costumes such a “Chucky”, the possessed murdering doll, and some more relaxed like Lilly MacFarland’s attire. She rocked a Halloween themed sweater with bats and pumpkins embroidery. MacFarland had a very different plan compared to Wegner.
“Me and my friends are going to a Halloween party. It sucks that’s it’s still COVID so we can’t really have as much fun as we want to we’re all still getting together”, said MacFarland.
The other students and professors who had gathered for the picture were also quite divided about their plans for Halloween. The most common answer was to have a small get-together of close friends and to watch Horror movies and eat Halloween treats.
One professor did say that they still plan to take their child Trick-or-Treating Sunday. Expressing how disappointed their child was last year when they were not allowed, it felt safe to go this year as schools are back in-person and businesses are all open. Masks will be worn of course.
“Honestly, I’ve stop following the COVID count in the past couple of months and everyone just seems over it. Like after Homecoming, I don’t see how going to a house party can be any worse. And plus the bars open”, said MacFarlande.
This Halloween is shaping up to be more eventful than last as residents in the Fredericton community seem to be more lenient about being in large groups because they feel safe after being vaccinated. What is concerning is the children under the age of 12 who have not been and those who can still be vulnerable even after having their shots. One thing learned from UNB Homecoming is that if university students want to party, there cannot be much done to stop them.