Halloween is stereotypically seen as a day of fun when people can dress as something they aren't. However, it is stereotypes that are problematic for many students.
\Halloween itself isn't offensive. It's when people portray an ethnicity in an incorrect way that people become offended,"" said Carl Camacho, a member of the executive team for the Multicultural Student Coalition and a UW-Madison senior.
For the past three years, the MCSC has used videotape to document offensive Halloween costumes. Members of the group approach students dressed in ethnic costumes and ask them a series of questions regarding what their costume is, what about their costume indicates this and if they find it offensive.
""When someone dresses as someone else's culture, people feel as if the whole struggle there's been in educating people has gone to waste,"" said Shahin Khalili, an administrative staff member at MCSC and UW-Madison senior.
MCSC representatives said they feel the problem can be attributed to a lack of education. Halloween perpetuates the problem of understanding and tolerance.
""On Halloween more than any other day, people tend to say, 'Oh, it's just good fun.' It's the one day you can dress up as offensive as possible without repercussions,"" said Jennifer Epps, Associated Students of Madison diversity chair.
There is a need for more dialogue in communities and on campus, Khalili said, since many students come from predominantly white communities and may not be as familiar with a diverse environment.
""There's an ethnic studies requirement on campus, but you can't learn about the whole world and the struggles of all its people in three credits,"" Khalili said.
The problem continues year round, Camacho said. Over the past few weeks, in preparation for Halloween, MCSC members showed the video they have compiled at the Campus Women's Center and at residence halls. They said they hope to do the same after Halloween, using the footage to encourage discussion and breed tolerance and understanding.
The effects of a discriminatory costume carry into daily life even after Halloween night is over, according to Epps.
""Students need to be aware, you can't disconnect yourself from someone writing 'nigger' on the wall of Witte when you go out on Halloween as a Native American. These two acts are very similar whether people are willing to recognize that or not,"" Epps said.
