While students are getting comfortable and have started going out more because COVID-19 guidelines have decreased, students and faculty are concerned for Halloween weekend.

According to Quinnipiac’s COVID-19 dashboard, there has been a total of 48 cases ranging from Aug. 30 through Oct. 24. As of Oct. 25, there are two current active cases.

Students have been going out to parties and nightclubs a lot more this semester than they have in the past year because of the start and rise of the pandemic. Brian Phelps, the owner of Toad’s Place, says that ever since they reopened on Jun. 18th, prior to being closed for 18 months during the pandemic, business has been great.

“Toad’s is the only venue around that can legally allow any age in here,” Phelps said. “When people are in here they are in here legally whereas you have a lot of these other places that are around and they are 21 and older…everyone in those venues that are under 21 are in there illegally.”

Toad’s place has a series of events planned for college students for halloween weekend.

“On Friday, we have a Halloween glow party…we’ve been selling tickets in advance for the glow party and it’s getting pretty close to being sold out,” Phelps said. “On Saturday, we have our dance party and it’s a costume dance party…We give prizes out to the best costumes…we give out around 25 prizes.”

Although students have been going out, Shavonne Chin, a second-year film major, is worried that students are not following the COVID-19 guidelines while they are out.

“The thing about people going off campus is are they actually going to follow those rules,” Chin said.

Chin’s main concern is being sent home again, since last year this time around, a majority of Quinnipiac students were sent home due to high COVID cases.

“Like last year when we had a party…then there was another outbreak then we had to go back online entirely and I’m going to be honest it’s hard when you’re a film major when you need to have those in person classes to learn the stuff,” Chin said.

Others also believe that students are going out more this year because of the vaccination. Haley Gyorda, a third-year advertising integrated communications major, is glad that places are asking for vaccination cards.

“All the places that I go to require the vaccination card and so I make sure I have mine pulled up,” Gyorda said.

However, depending on the places she goes to, Gyorda thinks some people are not being as careful as they should be.

“Sometimes I do feel like people could be bending the rules or taking some risky choices, it really depends on the night, but I try to keep myself and my friends as safe as possible.” Gyorda said.

Despite faculty and staff knowing that students will continue to attend parties, specifically for Halloween weekend, Chief of Public Safety Otoniel Reyes mentions that public safety has been doing their best to continue to keep track of COVID-19 guidelines in order to keep students safe.

“Certainly as members of the COVID taskforce we’re constantly evaluating our protocols and really looking at guidance from the CDC to make sure we’re able to open up but do it in a responsible way…to make sure our students are in the best position possible,” Reyes said.

Reyes discusses the responsibility for students to keep in mind while going out so that they can enjoy themselves while being safe.

“Please be mindful as you enjoy yourselves, try to mask whenever possible and practice good habits while you’re out there and socializing.” Reyes said.

Although the concerns about students going out will remain, students and faculty want to continue to make sure that everyone remains on campus all year round.

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