How to Not Be the Non-Confrontational FriendHow to Not Be the Non-Confrontational Friend

In the horrific adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, the 1976 film dives into the life of shy, non-confrontational, and nonviolent (at the time) Carrie White. Carrie is portrayed as a teen with little experience in social settings, which makes her vulnerable to being picked on and bullied in different ways. 

“No, it’s not that I don’t like to speak up for myself, I’m just super non-confrontational.” That’s not a statement you should live by, babe. What do you mean you’re just “super non-confrontational”? No matter how shy you are, you should always speak up for yourself—no matter what. 

Carrie herself was a beautiful young girl, unable to grow into her teen years like a “normal” teenager due to constant abuse and mistreatment from her mother. Being told to never say anything to anyone takes a toll on you as both an individual and a young person. For Carrie, not speaking up for herself turned into one dumpster fire after another, spiraling out of control and ultimately leading to her own—and others’—demise. 

Now, I know we’re all too old to bully each other. Plus, death is a bit extreme. We’re grown adults; anything should be fixable or compromiseable through a simple conversation. Even if you don’t get your way, at least you’ll have peace of mind knowing you said your piece and shared your perspective on whatever the issue, argument, or disagreement was. 

October is a crucial time in your college career. Everything is happening at once—welcome week, assignments, events, classes, birthdays, you name it. By now, you’ve likely established a routine, found your friend group, and if you’re like me and love your friends, you’ve probably seen them multiple times since school started to discuss the most important event of the year: Halloween weekend. 

The biggest college holiday brings all the chaos you’d expect—but what should matter most is maintaining your friendships and overall well-being. Speak up for yourself. I can’t say it any simpler. Disagreements will happen. Minor verbal altercations are inevitable when, for example, everyone’s talking at once, most of y’all are “turnt", social batteries are drained, and there’s only one charger left. Shit happens. What matters most is that y’all make it back where you came from and remain friends. 

For those celebrating Halloween College Edition for the first time, I want you to use your discernment—heavily use your discernment. You just got here. You don’t know these people yet, and if you have to ask who your friends are, those are not your friends. Know your crowd and know when to speak up. It’s never okay to get steamrolled or to participate in steamrolling

others. Humanity is in a crisis state right now, and it takes zero effort to be empathetic toward one another. 

Know who you are and represent that—for no one but yourself. Finally, for my shyer baddies, like Carrie, who hold space for inconvenience and grace in their hearts: it’s okay not to say every thought that crosses your mind. But when it comes to your overall well-being and comfort, you should say something—and you know that. You’re not “doing too much” if you speak up for yourself, especially in situations that make you uncomfortable. A lot of problems could be avoided or solved with words. 

Carrie isn’t a happy story—she killed everyone out of anger and frustration instead of speaking up for herself with strength and confrontation. Don’t be the non-confrontational friend. Be the confrontational friend, baddies.

Editors Note

The Ghoul’s Gazette has been a true passion project, months in the making and filled with creativity, care, and intention. From the very beginning, I wanted to craft a mini issue that celebrated a full cast of POC talent, addressing the deep-rooted underrepresentation that has shaped so much of visual culture. This project became a space to honor culturally specific stories, identities, and aesthetics that are often overlooked, while reimagining the eerie, the haunting, and the beautiful through our own lenses. I'm so proud of my friends and models for passionately embracing my concept, embodying the spirit of the project with authenticity and strength. Their energy and artistry made every photo, every moment, and every detail come alive. I’m endlessly grateful for my incredible production manager, Mickayla, and the amazing production team—Amanda, Tayja, and K—whose creativity, patience, and support made this project possible from start to finish.

This issue is more than just a collection of images; it’s a love letter to collaboration, representation, and the stories we tell when we’re given the space to shine. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

With love,

Chloe Kaleah

HALLO-WEEKEND SAFETY: 8 TIPS TO STAY SAFE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT

If you’re like me and Halloween is one of your favorite holidays, then you know how easy it is to get caught up in the whirlwind of finding a costume, planning the perfect Halloween night, and deciding which of the many events to attend.

It’s easy to forget to think about safety! But never fear, I’m giving you 8 safety tips to keep in

mind:

Travel in groups: Don't go out alone especially late at night. To stay safe, have a travel buddy to stick with so that no one is alone. When you're alone that makes you an easier target for

people with nefarious intentions. This may seem obvious, but I’ve hung out with many people

who, in an effort to make things "easier, " say they will just meet the rest of the group at the

destination. Trust me, it will bring a lot more peace of mind if you travel to and from your destination together.

Make sure you have a plan for traveling: Going to and from clubs and other events, it's best to plan in advance. If you’re in a major city like New York City, know in advance what bus or train you will take back home and when. If you get an Uber or Lyft, always check the license plate to make sure it matches. Do NOT get in a car if the plate doesn’t match what is said on the app.

Don't leave anyone behind: This goes hand in hand with traveling in groups. If you're in a group, you are all responsible for each other. Some advice my older cousin gave me when I was going to college: He said it's okay if you want to go out drinking with your friends, but if you're going to, make sure they are people who would carry you home if you end up going overboard. So I say to you: Be the person who will carry someone home! Leave no one behind!

Avoid parks late at night: With all the commotion of Halloween night, it is typical for people to do and try to get away with anything because they think they can hide behind the business of the holiday. It is best to avoid dark places like parks, especially late at night.

Keep your Citizen app handy! This app is free to download from Google Play or the Apple App store. It sends safety alerts in real-time and enables you to instantly reach emergency contacts, and monitors certain areas to keep you updated on what is happening in real-time.

Keep your phones on! Since I’m on the topic of technology, if you have a phone, keep it

charged and on so you can get in touch with anyone from your group if you get lost. If you don’t, stick with someone who does so you always have a way to get in touch with the group.

Going to a club: If you're going to a club, this comes with its own list of precautions. Don't take food or drinks from strangers, drink responsibly, and again, don't leave anyone behind.

The parade: To stay safe in the crowd of people, try to stay on the edges of the crowd so you can enter and exit quickly and safely. Lastly, don’t forget to have fun! I guarantee that will be a lot easier when you know you’re prepared for anything. Have a happy (and safe) Halloween