Halloween Costumes Spark Discussion on Racial Issues

Over a week after Halloween, administrators and student leaders are still talking about the holiday weekend – in the context of race.

Two unrelated events – an Ohio ad campaign and a specific incident on campus – prompted discussions about the potential for certain Halloween costumes to be racially and culturally offensive. The pre-Halloween ad campaign, started by a student group at Ohio University and depicting students holding photos of different racial and ethnic stereotypes in costume, circulated around Boston College before the weekend.

The campaign's message, "We're a culture, not a costume," addressed the trend of turning ethnic and racial stereotypes into popular Halloween costumes. The ad's message – to not reduce a culture to a caricature – was meant to apply to all races and stereotypes, and not just during Halloween.

"The campaign wasn't something we'd seen before, and it spurred conversation," said Alicia Martinez, vice president of the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) and A&S '12. "These very offensive costumes have often gone unnoticed."

Michael Kitlas, president of the UGBC and A&S '12, said there was more of a dialogue about these issues than in the past. "This year was different than other years because there was more feedback from students voicing concerns," he said. "And, some RAs sent out e-mails [with the ad campaign's message] to be more proactive."

With the campaign initiating the conversation on campus, a BC-specific incident – two non-black student-athletes donning blackface for Halloween – prompted a more formal discussion at a recent meeting of the Vice President Advisory Committee.

Kitlas, who was present at the meeting, said, "Because the students were on an athletic team and they have close ties to the University, the issue was pushed to the forefront."

The two student-athletes have not yet been identified.

Though Kitlas said the student athletes were not trying to be offensive, he said, "The deeper cultural ties with costumes do tend to get lost."

The committee, which advises Patrick Rombalski, vice president of student affairs, looks to be more proactive next year.

"In the past, we have put on small events," said Gururaj Shan, president of the ALC and A&S '12. "At [the committee meeting], though, Dr.Rombalski suggested we do a pre-Halloween event next year. He said it should come from the students, not from the administration."

With the Ohio University campaign in mind, Martinez said, "We've talked about it on an individual basis, but we've never done an actual campaign through ALC."

"Education is a big part of solving the problem," she said. "A lot has been accomplished in the past few years with getting the campus engaged in conversation. Conversations are happening with administrators, as well as students, but students still need to step outside their comfort level."

"I think overall, our student body generally understands the norms of society and political correctness, especially in public settings," Shan said. "In private settings it's different, though, we kind of divide up. We divide into groups based on similarities, and these groups aren't integrated. And this goes beyond racial lines – also socioeconomic and geographical divides."

"It's important to have a proactive education aspect," Kitlas said. "Students need to think of the deeper implications, and it's definitely something UGBC as a whole is really pushing this year." ♦