Facts: The Hillsborough Hike took place Saturday night. It is the annual celebration of Halloween at  NCSU . George Michael, Charlie Sheen and the Ninja Turtles were all in attendance.

Our Opinions: For all its excellence, there are a couple areas where the Hike can improve. The opening of the streets, the bars and our professor’s hearts could increase the success of the event in years to come.

George Michael, Charlie Sheen and the Ninja Turtles were all in attendance Saturday during the Hillsborough Hike. The sidewalks were flushed with puns, pop-culture and skin. There were some going for the true hike, a drink at every bar; however, most were content to just have a great night. For all its excellence, there are a couple areas where the Hike can improve.

As the night progresses and more pour onto Hillsborough Street, the sidewalks become a mosh pit. With the streets closed, the under-21 crowd is forced into eateries. Seeing as there is only so much time one can spend at N.Y . Pizza, the sidewalks become crammed and our style with it.

The Raleigh Police Department is in charge of the decision to open or close Hillsborough Street but could not be reached for comment on at the time of publication. The Campus Police worked in tandem with the Raleigh Police Department during the Hillsborough Hike.  Sergeant Frank Brinkley of the Campus Police said their purpose was to “Make sure everyone had a safe and enjoyable time” and that was the feeling of their presence on Saturday.

Brinkley, not being at the event, surmised from those who were on duty that “it was a pretty civil but fun event.” Our civil behavior and the relative success of the Hillsborough Hike as a growing tradition at N.C . State beg for an increase in the size of the event. Closing down Hillsborough Street during the event would open up the event and, perhaps, save people with precarious costumes, such as Lieutenant Dan, from being trampled.

The under-21 crowd, the majority of the N.C . State undergraduate students, do not have much to do during the event but walk and eat. The Hike could gain a lot from including this audience in a greater capacity. It could be as simple as having places admit those 18 and up. There are ways to limit alcohol consumption to those over 21 and include those who are not.

The only other improvement that could be made to the Hike has nothing to do with the Hike itself, it has to do with our professors and Halloween. The scheduling of tests, papers and projects on and around Halloween is masochistic. It is not reasonable of professors to ask that their work take priority during this time period, it will not. While we may not get the day off, we are definitely going to take the night(s) off.