To: Andrew Hanson, Res Life & Student Conduct, Juanita Hall, Multicultural Programs, Rahuldeep Gill, Religion Department, and Chris Kimball, University President

Demand CLU Residence Life Apologize

Apologize to the students of CLU for portraying us as racists, bigots, and ignorant children in your latest flyer circulated around campus.

Why is this important?

Recently, Residence Life circulated flyers throughout residence halls ordering students to question whether or not their costume was offensive, or if they “represent a culture that is not [their] own.” Residence Life seems to be saying that it is only acceptable for students to wear a costume that represents their own culture? For example, are only Native Americans allowed to wear Native American costumes? Are only Japanese students allowed to wear ninja costumes? Isn't it offensive to reduce such deep and historically important cultures into stereotypes that must not be perpetuated, and to confine the celebration of said cultures to themselves? Is this not cultural segregation? Why does Residence Life assume that by a student dressing in a certain costume, it means that they are mocking that culture/religion? How does Residence Life know that they are not appreciating and showing respect for that culture?

This does a disservice to the students of CLU by asserting that it is better to be offended than to express yourself.

Residence Life does not give enough credit to the students to make wise choices, and reverts to taking away their rights to choose whatever costume that they so choose. By posting this poster around campus, Residence Life is the one creating a negative stereotype of all students at CLU. Residence Life is making a mockery of your students by believing that we cannot make wise choices because we are only college students and that we don’t know any better, when in fact, we are adults and they should give us the credit that we deserve.

The students of CLU deserve an apology for Residence Life’s offensive assumptions.

The following signatories share their exclusive agreement with this position: