This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, making it quite possiblyone of the biggest party or prankster nights of the year. With thevarious Halloween plans of students at The University of Memphis, Uof M Police Services in cooperation with the Memphis PoliceDepartment have a few plans of their own.
U of M sophomore Myla Young said she plans to celebrateHalloween at a masquerade party. For junior Jessica Grayson,Halloween will be a traditional date night, and freshman NikkiMiddleton said she plans to attend a fraternity party.
But for Maj. Ray Craft, U of M Police Services administrativecommander, Halloween will be another work night.
"We don't really have any plans to beef up on security," Craftsaid. "We discussed it the other day and the main thing that we aredoing is making sure that we are well staffed."
Craft said that although there are not any significant effortsto tighten campus security, there is a heightened awareness amongofficers.
"The weekend alone is associated with crime, and on Halloween,people tend to party -- and there are always Halloween pranksters,"Craft said. "We are not going to be all tense, but we areaware."
The Memphis police officers who work the area surrounding campusare working in cooperation with U of M officers for this nightknown for trouble.
"In fact, we are having a meeting with them (today)," Craftsaid. "We will discuss some of our concerns with them, especiallywith all of the parties for Halloween on frat row."
But one member of a fraternity said Halloween falling on aFriday is not really an issue with his organization and that theywould hold a party even if Halloween were on a Wednesday.
"I think the fact that Halloween is on Friday does giveHalloween a twist, but it doesn't make me feel any less safe thanusual," said Middleton, a U of M freshman.
Memphis police public information officer LaTanya Able said thevalue of safety is increased on any Halloween.
"We always encourage citizens to practice caution andawareness," Abel said.
Young, Gray and Middleton all said that they would be cautioustonight, but no more than usual.
"I will be with friends, people I can trust, and that makes adifference," Middleton said.
