How far is too far?

Each year, you can be sure someone you know will take Halloween costumes to a new level of offensive.

Offensive Halloween costumes have recently reached new heights. As a society, we have taken a holiday that was predominantly for children, and have socially accepted adults joining in on the fun. For some adults, this means partaking in childlike bliss of not knowing any better.

Over the years, the “Child Molesting Priest” costume has increased in popularity. This costume pokes fun at the revealing of multiple molesting incidents the Roman Catholic Church has experienced over the years. Several priests were found to be guilty of making children within their congregation perform sexual favors. This horrifying event has been made into a horrifying costume. A life-altering and tragic event for so many has unfortunately been deduced to a Halloween costume.

In 2013, we began to see Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman Halloween costumes pop up. Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old boy from Florida, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman; a neighborhood watch volunteer who said he was patrolling the area Martin was walking in that night on Feb. 26, 2012. Zimmerman claimed he was assaulted by Martin and in his defense shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old. The jury acquitted Zimmerman of his second-degree murder charge. Some believe that Martin deserved what he got, others believe differently; no matter the belief, we can all agree to leave the dead to rest in peace, and Halloween is no exception to disrupt them.

Caitlyn Jenner’s “Vanity Fair” cover photo revealing her new look and identity has been materialized into one of the most trending Halloween costumes this year. Caitlyn Jenner, previously known as Bruce Jenner, the famous Olympic icon, is a transgender woman. A pivotal moment in her life as well as for the LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual/Aromantic) community is now being worn as comedic relief. For years, Jenner struggled with her identity, and the moment she is brave enough to tell the world who she is, we have turned it into a joke.

A trend that may never go away is the over-sexualized Halloween costumes for women.

Halloween has become a holiday for women across the nation to dress as inappropriately as they want without receiving widespread criticism. From sexy nurses to sexy Disney princesses, the selections are almost endless.

These costumes are continually decreasing in material and increasing in buyers. Women, and even men, walk the streets practically wearing nothing at all, and though they may be living out a personal fantasy, there are those of us who would rather not see that. Not everything is meant to be sexy. How is Barney or Olaf from “Frozen” sexy? What is that doing to young minds?

Additionally, if these young children are seeing grown-ups make Halloween costumes out of someone’s murder or sex change, what is stopping them from bullying their peers. We are setting examples for not only ourselves, but for the younger generation.

Even as college students, we need to realize that it is inappropriate to go out to Denny’s in a dominatrix outfit. We need to set boundaries. It is a widespread stigma that college students dress up in sexualized ladybug costumes and skimpy togas for Halloween bashes where everyone is getting “turnt up.” But what ever happened to actually dressing up scary?

Halloween is without a doubt meant for fun and enjoyment, but there is such a thing as having too much fun. Lets not take one day out of the year to offend people we are with all year long.