Oregon Universities Warn Against Culturally Appropriating Characters In Safety Letter

ashley.rae | October 28, 2016
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According to Oregon State University and the University of Oregon, cultural appropriation is a major public safety concern.

The Oregon State University and University of Oregon student governments have come together to condemn “culturally appropriative” Halloween costumes as part of their mission to create a “safer campus, so students can thrive.”

In a joint letter written by Oregon State student president Rachel Grisham and University of Oregon president Quinn Haaga, the student governments begin by cautioning students against binge-drinking, taking drugs, and creating “vulnerable spaces” to perpetuate sexual assault.

An entire paragraph of the letter is also dedicated to telling people “cultural appropriation is not acceptable”--even if people are “appropriating” a particular character.

According to the student government presidents, wearing costumes that adopt aspects of other cultures is “offensive and reinforces negative stereotypes.” They also “reinforce racism, sexism, and classicism.”

The school also says they “expect everyone” not to engage in any cultural appropriation (or else?):

We also want to remind everyone that cultural appropriation is not acceptable. Cultural appropriation is the act of borrowing or using aspects of a culture by another culture, typically a dominant culture. Around the time of Halloween, we often see people dressing as a culture or a character, which is offensive and reinforces negative stereotypes. These costumes reinforce racism, sexism, and classism. As active and respectful members of the OSU and the UO communities, we expect everyone to not engage in cultural appropriation.

After saying they “expect” students not to wear certain costumes because they simply are just “not acceptable,” the school presidents again repeat their letter is part of “everyone’s commitment to ensuring a safer campus for all.”

Oregon State University took the condemnation of cultural appropriation even further and issued a “My Culture is Not a Costume: cultural appropriation vs. cultural appreciation” guide on its website, including a link to the radical website “Everyday Feminism” for people to learn more information.

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