Being Mindful About College Halloween Costume Choices

Most students, no doubt, are going to be celebrating Halloween on campus this week -- as they should be. But part of celebrating Halloween in an environment of higher learning is being mindful about the choices we make when it comes to Halloween costumes and even party themes.

Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS) at Ohio University have been receiving quite a bit of publicity for their "We're a culture, not a costume" campaign. The posters do a fantastic job of reminding all of us how the things we see every day -- in costume shops, in catalogs, on our friends and neighbors -- can be offensive and disrespectful. You can read more about STARS and their awareness campaign through a profile of the organization or by visiting their website directly.

Learn more about:

• Racially Offensive Costumes
• College Students in Racial Drag
• Halloween and Race

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Halloween Snacks in College

Hosting a Halloween party? Having friends over? Heading somewhere, and you don't want to arrive empty-handed? Just want to make something fun and easy to get into the Halloween spirit? These 5 ideas are quick, cheap, and easy to make -- especially for college students, who are often short on time, money, and resources.

• Easy pre-made cookies. Homemade cookies are always a hit, especially in college. Many companies, like Pillsbury, make rolls of cookie dough that you can just slice and cook. In fact, around Halloween, they often offer cookies with Halloween-themed images imprinted on the dough. Even if you're in a residence hall with no cookware, you can simply put them on some aluminum foil and put 'em in the oven. Feel free to decorate with icing tubes and other "toppings" that you can pick up, too. These pre-made tubes of dough are often found near the butter in most stores.
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• Fill clear bags with candy. Almost every grocery store sells small Ziploc bags. Grab a small box of them, grab some candy corn and other Halloween-type treats, grab a permanent marker or two, and you're all set. You can write and decorate the bags with the markers before you fill them ("Happy Halloween!" "Trick or Treat!"), scoop some candy inside, seal them up, and be ready to go.
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• Great creative with "nasty" candy. Around Halloween, the gross- and nasty-looking candy makes an appearance. Anything gummy suddenly becomes fodder for Halloween; you can find gummy worms (of course) as well as gummy hands, gravestones, skeletons, and the like. Use these to make anything Halloween-themed: a regular cake you bought, cupcakes (for the topping), cookies, cups with pudding inside (with gross worms coming out). There's no limit!
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• Get creative with Jello. With a little food coloring, you can quickly dye Jello black or use the orange flavor. You can fill small cups, make Jello Jigglers, or make a gross-looking mold with floating worms, spiders, and more inside. Everyone loves Jello, and Halloween is a great time to use it in new and creative ways. All you'll need to make it is hot water and something to pour it in.
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• Make Halloween cupcakes. You often need very few ingredients (one egg, a little oil, maybe some water) to make cake mixes, and you can buy disposable aluminum cupcake cups that will stand up on their own (so that you don't need a muffin pan, too). Buy a chocolate flavor to make sure they're extra dark, and decorate to your hearts content. You can even arrange and decorate them to look like tombstones, with witty messages specific to your campus or recent events.

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Thinking About Halloween Already?

Halloween is coming up quicker than you might realize. And since Halloween is often one of the biggest events of the year on a college campus, you definitely don't want to be caught unprepared!

Fortunately, things like finding a costume and planning for a party can be easier than you might think -- with a little prep work, of course. Check out the links below for tricks and tips:

• 2011 College Halloween Costumes for Singles
• 2011 College Halloween Costumes for Couples
• 2011 College Halloween Costumes for Groups
• Quick & Easy Halloween Snacks for a College Event
• 5 Great College Haunted House Ideas

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2011 College Halloween Costumes for Couples

Halloween by yourself is fun -- but Halloween with a fantastic partner can be even better. After all, when else do you get to dress up and be ridiculous for an entire night?

Of course, finding a good Halloween costume for both of you can be a challenge. Check out the list below for some fun and funky ideas.

6 College Halloween Costumes for Couples in 2011

1. Prince William and Kate Middleton. It wasn't called the "wedding of the century" for nothing. Spruce yourselves up for some fun -- and adopt a fake English accent if you're feeling particularly fancy.

2. Famous couples in the news. Fortunately, a quick glance of the 2011 gossip headlines can provide a lot of material for Halloween costume ideas. Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were in the news for their twins. Kate Hudson found love with Muse frontman Matthew Bellamy. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez made headlines because, well, they're dating. Beyonce and Jay-Z made headlines because, well, they're great musicians -- and expecting a baby. Other couples, like Jane Lynch and wife Dr. Lara Embry, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, and Patrick Harris and partner David Burtka, made headlines because they're funny, entertaining people who also just seem like nice, regular folks.

3. Couples who got married/are engaged. Dressing as a couple who got married in 2011 -- especially if their wedding was a bit over the top -- can be an easy way to find an instant and memorable Halloween costume. Consider dressing as Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries, Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo, or Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig. Don't forget your huge wedding ring, too, of course! (Added benefit: try heading to a thrift store to find a cheap dress/suit/accessories that could easily be substituted for wedding material.) If you feel like going the creepy route, you can also dress as 51-year-old actor Doug Anthony Hutchison and his 16-year-old bride/aspiring country singer Courtney Alexis Stodden.

4. Character couples from a certain era. Alright, so you like the couple idea but want to jazz it up a bit. Look to the past decades for some ideas, like Sonny and Cher, Madonna and Sean Penn, Paula Abdul and Emilio Estevez, John and Jackie Kennedy, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, or Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. You can have some fun with celebrities while also getting a little crazy with costumes and hair.

5. Madonna and her current boyfriend-of-the-season. Although she was married to Guy Ritchie for several years, Madonna seems to make headlines with whatever young, handsome boyfriend she currently has. A quick Google search will help you figure out who her current beau is -- and how you both can dress up to look like the famous couple.

6. The Obamas. Barack and Michelle Obama are one of the best-recognized and most well-known couples in the world. Why not copy the outfits they wore for one of their famous events (try Inauguration Night for outfits everyone will recognize) and have a little fun acting presidential?

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2010 Halloween Costume Ideas for Men

Being a male college student and trying to find a Halloween costume can be a bit challenging. Luckily, however, 2010 presented us with a wide range of ridiculous, retro, and overall really great options to choose from.

2010 College Halloween Costumes for Men

1. The guy from the Old Spice commercials. Look at him, look at yourself. Look at him, look at yourself. And then look in your closet to see what you can wear under that towel so you don't scare everyone -- even if it is Halloween.
   
2. Jon Stewart. A classic but goody, especially with "Rally to Restore Sanity" scheduled for October 30.
   
3. Stephen Colbert. Similar to Jon Stewart, Colbert can be easily imitated with some quick finds from your closet.
   
4. Mark Zuckerberg. The founder of Facebook -- and subject of the recent "The Social Network" movie -- can be fun to dress up and act like at any Halloween shindig.
   
5. Barack Obama. Will being him ever go out of style? You can be Professor Obama (from his days at the University of Chicago) or President Obama. Either way, you'll be the hit of the party -- especially if you come with a Michelle.
   
6. Any character from Glee. It would be a challenge not to at least have a little fun dressing up as Will Schuester.
   
7. Any character from Mad Men. The retro hair, suits, attitude ... and the perfect excuse to be able to pull it all together.
   
8. "The Situation" from Jersey Shore. Yes, he's ridiculous, but he'll also make a kickin' Halloween costume. If you can find time to put something together between gym, tan, laundry, that is.

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2011 College Halloween Costumes for Groups

Going to a Halloween party as part of a group is one of the more enjoyable ways to celebrate the holiday. You'll make a scene when you enter, people will remember what you wore, and everyone will know who you're with throughout the night.

Finding a great group costume, however, can be a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, 2011 provided quite a bit of fodder for great college Halloween costume ideas for groups.

7 Great College Halloween Costumes for Groups in 2011

1. The Muppets. They have a new movie out and practically everyone knows and loves them. The Muppets also work great if you're not sure of the final size of your group, as you can add or drop muppets depending on how many people end up attending.

2. The Smurfs. Similar to the Muppets, the Smurfs have a new movie out. Get (or make) some fluffy white hats; grab some white pants, white shoes, and blue shirts; paint your faces blue; and ... voila! It's smurfy!

3. The cast from "Glee." They're fun to watch and easy to imitate. Grab some friends, grab some clothes, and have fun dressing up. Megaphone optional.

4. A famous sports team. Consider dressing as the U.S. Women's Soccer Team, a group of famous basketball players, or even a duo like Venus & Serena Williams.

5. The cast of "Jersey Shore." The only problem your group might have with this idea is deciding who gets to dress as whom. Fake muscles or hair pouf, anyone?

6. Any of the wacky families on TV. You can dress as members of the Hogan family, the Osbournes, the Kardashians ... with so many options, it's hard to go wrong.

7. The judges on "American Idol" (or any other reality competition show). Most of the judges are known for their quirky personality and behavior. Play them up to create a group costume that's sure to be remembered.

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College Halloween Costumes

Halloween on a college campus can be one of the highlights of fall semester. Without a great costume, however, what's a college student to do?

If you're like most college students who are already overburdened with obligations, you probably waited until the last minute to figure out what to be for Halloween. Luckily, there are several great ideas that can be done at the last minute -- and without spending too much money.

Dress As Your Roommate

This should be done kindly, of course, and is even better if you both go together while dressed as each other. Simply borrow your roommate's clothes and an accessory or two, vamp it up a bit, and off you go. (Women: Is your roommate into bags? Grab several of her faves and head out. Men: Does your roommate always wear sports shirts? Put on several and show them off during the evening, perhaps rotating them as the night goes on.) It should go without saying, of course, that you'll need your roommate's permission and that you should be sensitive of hurting any feelings. But if you're both into it, it can be a fast costume fix.

Go to a Thrift Store

Thrift stores have all kinds of great finds throughout the year -- but especially at Halloween. Grab some funky clothes; grab some fancy clothes; grab some clothes from a decade or two ago. But grab all you want and don't worry about spending too much.

Go as a Group

If you're going out with a group of friends, work together to find a costume. You can dress like the cast from a recent movie, flight attendants and pilots, or even the members of whatever girl or boy band is currently hot. Because you'll be going as a group, you won't need as many accessories as you would if you were responsible for your own attire.

Dress as a College-Aged Character from a Movie

Whether or not you ever thought about it as such, you have an entire room full of college-student props. Vamp it up and go as a college-aged character from a movie. It can be a classic (Bluto, anyone?) or whatever is current. Either way, it's an easy fix to not having a costume handy.

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2011 College Halloween Costumes for Singles

Halloween on a college campus is usually a big deal. There are often campus parties that have become tradition, and a night of fun can be what everyone needs as the stress of the semester really starts to pile up. But what's a great Halloween party without an equally great college Halloween costume?

If you need a costume just for yourself (rather than for a group or a couple), check out the list below. It features the best 2011 college Halloween costume ideas for singles.

1. Snooki or others from "Jersey Shore" (or any other reality TV show, for that matter). Who wouldn't want to do the Snooki poof? Or create a Situation? With people who seem more like characters than real folks, the "Jersey Shore" cast provides a seemingly endless wealth of costume ideas.

2. A classic character, like Elvis or Marilyn Monroe. These folks are classic for a reason -- and costumes with some of their best-known outfits can be easy to find.

3. Any famous person who was pregnant in 2011. Go for glam -- and a baby bump -- with someone like Mariah Carey, Kate Hudson, or Victoria Beckham.

4. Your roommate or a well-known professor on campus. The key to this one is to do it with respect. If you come off as mocking and mean, you'll look more like a jerk than someone with a great costume. Imitate your roommate or professor's more endearing traits, from clothes to body language.

5. Any character from a classic horror movie. Freddy Krueger, the clown from It, Chucky, Jigsaw, Jason, Dracula ... you name it, they're creepy. And great Halloween costume ideas.

6. A celebutante. You may not get the bank account that comes with the life of people like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, or Nicole Richie, but you can at least have fun for the day (or night!).

7. The latest teen sensation. Nothing screams Halloween costume like Justin Beiber or Rebecca Black -- even if it's not Friday.

8. Lady Gaga. You can go classic Lady Gaga (meat dress, anyone?) or you can see what she's done lately. Coming to your Halloween party in an egg, however, might present a bit of a challenge.

9. A sports figure. You can go generic, like a baseball player, or specific, like Derek Jeter. Either way, sports figures are a fun and easy way to dress up for Halloween.

10. A figure who faced public downfall or ridicule. Charlie Sheen, anyone? A quick Google search of this year's headlines can bring up a large list of WINNING! people to dress as.

11. An action hero. There has been an abundance of movies lately featuring action heroes -- and more are on the way. Consider dressing as Captain America, the Green Latern, Spiderman, any of the X-Men characters, or even Catwoman.

12. A character from Adult Swim. With some of the more creative animated characters on TV, Adult Swim also offers up some of the best Halloween costume ideas.

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2010 Halloween Costume Ideas for Women

Not sure what to wear to celebrate Halloween on your college campus? Need something trendy, fun, but easy and affordable? Luckily, 2010 presented more than enough options for female college students to choose from.

2010 College Halloween Costumes for Women

1. Lady Gaga. From her all-lace costume to the meat dress, there are tons of options to choose from here. A quick Google Image search should provide more than enough ideas, depending on how avant-garde you want to be!
   
2. "Flo" from the Progressive commercials. A brown wig (or some hairspray if you have brown hair), a headband, white pants, a white polo shirt, an apron, and some red lipstick are all this costume takes. Don't forget the name tag, though!
   
3. Bristol Palin. She's been in the news a lot this year, and her Dancing on the Stars turn should provide a wide range of costumes to choose from.
   
4. Megan McCain. Another political figure who is easy to imitate, both in style and in clothing.
   
5. Oprah Winfrey. With her show going off the air this year, she's been in the news a lot. And she can make a quick and easy person to imitate with a little hairspray, make-up, and thrift-store finds.
   
6. Any character from Glee. Sue Sylvester, anyone?
   
7. Any character from Mad Men. The clothes are retro and the hair and make-up will be a kick to put together. What's not to love?
   
8. Snooki. Oh, just admit it: that show sucks people in. And when else will it be socially acceptable to use a Bumpit for your pouf?

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