Focus on Social Justice Issues
In late October 2006, students gathered in costume for a party at an off-campus location. The theme of the party was the “Most Offensive Halloween Costume Party Ever.” A student taped portions of the party and posted the video on the web site YouTube on Nov. 8, 2006. Before the video was removed by the author, many members of the Willamette campus community had viewed it and found the various costumes in the video quite offensive. Some of the students who organized and attended the party indicated later that the costume party’s theme and the costumes were intended to be satirical.
In the aftermath of this event and other incidents, a group calling themselves the Concerned Students for Social Justice formed, organizing protests on campus and asking the Willamette community to take actions to reaffirm a commitment to values of diversity and social justice. President Pelton and senior administrators have hosted various meetings with students who organized and participated in the party as well as those who objected to or were offended by its consequences. Pelton has continually informed the board of trustees, the alumni association board of directors and other university bodies of these discussions as well as plans for actions to be taken immediately and over the longer term.
Links below lead to the president’s letter to the Willamette community as well as other related letters, all presented in chrolological order.
- Nov. 14, 2006
- Board of Trustees Committee Meeting
- Nov. 15, 2006
- Response from the Costume Party’s Creators
- Nov. 16, 2006
- Concerned Students for Social Justice Initial Letter
- Nov. 18, 2006
- M. Lee Pelton’s Letter to the Willamette Community
- Nov. 19, 2006
- Concerned Students for Social Justice Final Letter
- Nov. 22, 2006
- Letter from the Dean to CLA Faculty
- Nov. 29, 2006
- Sustainability Council’s Statement of Support
- Nov. 30, 2006
- M. Lee Pelton Announces the Council on Diversity and Social Justice
- July 11, 2007
- M. Lee Pelton Preamble