The university cautioned students about offensive Halloween costumes around this time last year. Thomas Wolfe, senior vice president and dean of student affairs, sent out an email a year ago asking students to be mindful not to offend others. In addition, the Department of Public Safety told the campus it could place a formal complaint with Judicial Affairs against any offensive costumes.

The university’s message attracted serious criticism from a First Amendment rights advocate for violating students’ right to free expression. The organization, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, sent a letter to Chancellor Nancy Cantor to recant and promise that university law enforcement wouldn’t infringe on freedom of expression.

The university, though a private institution empowered to enforce its own codes of conduct, should uphold students’ First Amendment rights. Syracuse University should not interfere, especially in off-campus areas, with students’ ability to wear whatever they wish on Halloween.

But with that said, SU students should be mature, educated adults and should walk out of their houses this weekend in good conscience. Just because it is students’ right to dress up as Steve Jobs does not mean it is tasteful or ethical. The same goes for a slew of other public figures, nationalities or abstract issues that are simply repugnant and uncreative.

Halloween fosters excitement all over campus and, among other things, reveals students’ creative spirit. Let creativity and intelligent humor be your guide this weekend rather than crass and thoughtless idiocy.