With the design school in the process of planning for the annual Halloween Bash, the question immediately turns to the issue of alcohol. Last year, the administration made a last-minute call restricting alcohol at the Halloween Bash, which marked the first time in the Bash’s history that alcohol was not permitted at the event.

The Halloween Bash isn’t just an event at N.C. State, it’s a tradition. This is not a self-initiated and self-proclaimed tradition that we have recently come to expect from the University.

It was clear after last year’s prohibition that the alcohol policy had a huge effect on the overall atmosphere. Older students were not excited about attending the social event in part because of the newly placed restrictions. It’s this excitement from the older students that fuels interest and enthusiasm from the newer design students.

The issue at hand is much more than simply alcohol; it’s the termination of historical traditions. The Halloween Bash and the year-old policy on alcohol is just one of many examples of where this University’s decision-makers have trampled the long-standing traditions that we have.

We’re all aware of how the University has screwed students in the past with its handling of tailgating, in trying to revamp Talley Parties, after cancelling them and its role in the crack down of the Brent Road party — all of which are, or have been, campus customs. Now, after a year of its prohibition policy the University must rescind its previous decision.

Safety and legal matters have been the concern of the University. There are ways to solve these problems, many of which exist in current night-life establishments.

To solve the problem of underage drinking at the party, the University can place a Campus Police officer at the door to check IDs and then those over 21 can receive a wristband. Furthermore, there can be an area designated for drinking where only those with the wristband are permitted. This is a solution that administrators should consider.

Halloween is a time of year where everyone should have fun and the design school has a proven history of facilitating this. It’s time for the administration to correct the wrong decision that it made last year and fully restore the tradition that is the Halloween Bash.