Editor’s note: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, help is available. The National Sexual Assault Hotline offers 24/7 confidential help at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

FARGO — While many people look forward to Halloween fun Thursday night or over the weekend, sexual assault prevention advocates are talking about the holiday’s dark side.

A line from the 2004 film Mean Girls states that Halloween is a night where people can dress up however they want and “no one can say anything about it.”

However, a 2019 poll by The Independent found that 55% of men believed that “the more revealing the clothing, the more likely she (a woman) will be harassed or assaulted”.

“When people are dressed a certain way, the public likes to say that they’re asking for it or that they’re okay with it because of what they’re wearing, and that’s absolutely not the case,” said Barbara Huewe, advocacy supervisor. for the Fargo Rape and Abuse Crisis Center.

She said someone in the Fargo-Moorhead community is sexually assaulted every day. But during Halloween celebrations, additional concerns can arise, she said, and it’s especially important for partygoers to be aware of what’s going on around them.

“If you see something weird, like your gut feels weird, we always say trust it,” Huewe said. “We have those instincts for a reason and we have to look out for each other sometimes.”

She said stepping in when someone seems uncomfortable is the best thing to do. She advised people to follow the friend system, make sure they go out with people they trust and not go home with someone they just met.

She pointed out that the blame for any incident, regardless of a person’s costume or attire, always lies with the person instigating the violence.

That goes for Halloween or any other day of the year.

In the past week and a half, eight sexual assaults have been reported to the Fargo Police Department.

Huewe said there are likely to be more sexual assaults on Halloween night and the weekend around the Halloween holiday.

Campus police also ask you to be careful during college Halloween parties.

More than 50 percent of all college sexual assaults occur between August and November, according to the American Psychological Association.

It’s known as the “red zone” because freshmen are the most vulnerable, as many of them get involved with drugs or alcohol for the first time.

University of North Dakota police say they see a similar amount of illegal activity as during football or hockey games.

They won’t have extra enforcement over Halloween or this weekend, but they have four people working overnight and more officers on call if needed.

“Halloween tends to invite parties, sometimes at universities, parties can tend to invite drinking behavior, so anytime you have those combinations of things, you know you’re a little bit more at risk,” says Rodney Clark, UND police chief. .