PSA: Our cultures are not your costume.
In the 1990s, the Stanford band was banned from Notre Dame Stadium twice. Their racy performances referred to Irish people as “stinking drunks,” casually satirized a debate between the devil and a Catholic Cardinal and painted hurtful stereotypes for the purpose of “a mere joke.”
“We find the behavior of the Stanford band not merely … boorish, but personally offensive. Such bigotry — whether it is against Catholics, Jews, the Irish, African Americans, Native Americans or any other group — is unacceptable,” University president emeritus Fr. Edward “Monk” Malloy said in response.
As we approach Halloween, this coalition of cultural clubs would like to remind our campus that no one’s culture deserves to be a costume or a joke. There was no room for it in our stadium in the late ’90s, and there is no room for it on our campus now. Before you choose what you will dress up as this Halloween, remember that dressing up as any ethnic group is wrong and contrary to Notre Dame’s commitment to human dignity.
Anthony Luc president Asian American Association
Naana Ocran president African Student Association
Qai Gordon president Black Student Association
Gregory Jenn president Latino Student Alliance
Dominic Acri president Native American Student Association
Oct. 24
