University of Oregon: Administrators Send “Halloween Reminders” Email that Threatens to Chill Student Expression

On October 29, 2024, the University of Oregon’s Division of Student Life sent an email “reminding” students of the university’s objections to certain Halloween costumes. The email declared, “Costumes that reinforce negative stereotypes of cultures and groups [or] that reinforce racism, sexism, homophobia, or classicism are offensive and unacceptable. It is unacceptable to ‘dress up’ as Native American, in Black face, as an immigrant, or inappropriately depict any other cultural, social, religious, or political identity.” FIRE wrote UO on October 31 reminding it that costumes are a form of symbolic expression protected by the First Amendment, even if others find them offensive.