As students begin to wear bigger jackets and bundle up to make their treks across campus, it is becoming hard to ignore the arrival of the fall season. With the arrival of the fall season also comes the some-what controversial holiday: Halloween. It is not uncommon to see a division among students when it comes to the celebration of Halloween, and while the results of a poll from the scroll and student, Andrew Bastedo, in his article, it is still important that we remember to be mindful of other people’s view of the Holiday. One way that we could practice this manifests itself in dorm decorations.

Full disclaimer: My dorm is decorated on the inside and out with Halloween ornamentation. I have a mini pumpkin on my desk, some magnets on my refrigerator, and a somewhat cringe-worthy sign on my door that reads, “Home is where you park your broom”. With that being said, I also understand how other people would not be comfortable with having Halloween decorations if you do not like the Halloween. So for those of you who want to decorate, here are a few suggestions I have that might help you be respectful of others beliefs.

1. Stick to Pumpkins. Pumpkins are the most neutral of all fall decorations. It would be very hard to argue that a pumpkin is offensive to God since it is just a harvested crop. Just keep in mind that they rot.
2. Consult your roommate about any decorations in or out of your room. Any decorative decision that you make does not only affect you, it also effects those that live in close proximity to you. If anything you want to put up makes them feel uncomfortable, it might be best to not put it up.
3. No blood or Gore. This probably goes without saying, but it is not classy, attractive, or respectful to adore your dorm or door with anything that is vaguely threatening. It is just counterproductive to living in harmonious community.
4. Use Biblical discernment about what you are putting up. The objective of decorating should not be solely to promote a comfortable environment, but to also represent you and your beliefs. If your decorations say something about you that is contrary to what the Bible teaches, then perhaps you should rethink that decor.
5. Do not be afraid to be corrected. If someone believes that something you put up is not Biblical, it might be a growing experience for you to find out why they think that. It does not mean that you are a bad person if you are being corrected, it just means that perhaps you overlooked something when you decorated that somebody else noticed.

Hopefully these 5 tips can help you not only enjoy the fall season, but also enrich a positive knowledge of yourself and a greater sense of respect for your community!

Written by Landon Hevalow