As children, most of us dressed up for Halloween, went trick-or-treating around our respective neighborhoods and then went home to sort out all of our chocolates and gummies. During high school, there was a latency period during which many students disregarded Halloween. However, in college, Brandeis students celebrate the day by dressing up in funny costumes that vary from references to their studies to pop culture icons. While we are not trick-or-treating anymore, we do enjoy the many parties offered on and off campus in our often creative and eccentric ensembles. Brandeis students were quite original in their costumes for Halloween 2010, emulating historical and literary figures in addition to referencing recent news with their costumes. Hannah Katcoff '12 looked to Betsy Ross for inspiration. Katcoff donned an American flag that she made into a dress, complete with a white wig and bonnet.

A prominent literary figure that popped up at more than one party was Harry Potter. Many students could pass as Potter at Hogwarts, complete with Potter's lightning-bolt scar. Additionally, many female students looked to Hermione Granger as a way to represent their favorite literary heroine on Halloween, though their "uniforms" tended to be a lot more revealing than Granger's.

Missy Skolnik '12 referenced the famed children's book character Pippi Longstocking. Skolnik made two braids and purposely put on two mismatched socks over red tights to complete the Longstocking look.

Steve Feldman '12 didn't look to literary characters; rather, he made light of the recent BP oil spill. Feldman dressed up as a BP worker who was cleaning up the spill. He custom-made his costume, splattering black paint on a white zip-up in order to look he was covered in oil.

Like Feldman, Wouter van der Eng '13 incorporated a lot of paint into his costume as the Jolly Green Giant. Van der Eng, a basketball player, stands at 6 feet, 8 inches, making his costume truly come to life.

Amanda Dryer '13 and Allie Kiekhofer '13 created another food-inspired costume. They dressed as the breakfast favorite sunny-side-up eggs, in all white with round, yellow cutouts on their stomachs for the yolks.

Students also referenced themselves-and each other-for costumes. Ben Plesser '14 dressed as a hipster, and a handful of fraternity boys played up their stereotypes dressing as Southern versions of themselves in blue blazers, polo shirts with popped collars, seersucker pants, Vineyard Vines hats and sunglasses.

When all else failed, students looked to pop culture references for inspiration. Britney Spears was seen throughout her eras-Rosie Veggeberg '13 re-created Spears' "Baby One More Time" video in a sexy schoolgirl costume.

From schoolgirls to Betsy Ross, Brandeisians' 2010 Halloween costumes varied tremendously. Whether the costumes were handmade or from the costume shop, Brandeis students were quite inventive this year.