In light of recent controversy here on campus concerning the "Most Offensive Costume Party Ever" ("MOCPE"), we the creators and organizers of that event would like to step forward and offer our say. Because we have not yet had a chance to share any of our input, it may seem as if we have nothing to say about what happened. This, however, is not the case.

We are writing this article to show what the MOCPE was about in order to defuse some of the misinformation (and subsequent criticism) around campus. Some students have put forth the argument that this is simply a matter of our first amendment rights being infringed upon, but this is not at all our concern. Our purpose here is not to defend our constitutional right to dress as Nazis-- we are simply aiming to demystify the events of the party.

On October 28th, we invited a host of people to "The Most Offensive Costume Party Ever". We were exceedingly explicit about the party's theme, and even made it clear that we would offer prizes for the most offensive costumes. People that attended knew what they were getting into, and dressed to fit the part. What you've heard is true, we had a Klansman and even Hitler himself in attendance.

This was the realization of an idea that we had been kicking around for over a year. While Halloween presented a convenient time to make it happen, it was not originally envisioned as a Halloween party. The concept was to throw a friendly party where attendees could safely caricature something that they (or others) found offensive, thereby casting a light on political correctness and the taking of offense in general. The concept arose out of an ironic, sleep-deprived discussion of the logical extremes of appropriate party behavior, and the consideration that themes like Pimps 'n' Hoes had already been explored.

Our intention was never to hurt anyone's feelings. Frankly, we are astonished by the amount of concern the party has generated and are truly regretful of the negative emotional impact it has had on some of our peers.

While the YouTube video that has facilitated the discussion on campus wasn't part of the original vision, it is an accurate representation of what transpired. Perhaps most importantly, it plainly states the name of the MOCPE, thereby providing context in which the events depicted can be understood. It is here that we feel the MOCPE has been grossly misrepresented not as a lighthearted exploration of moral edict, but as a series of overtly racist acts.

Ignoring the obvious satirical implications of the title, "The Most Offensive Costume Party Ever", it is possible when watching the video to see otherwise inexplicable images of students parading about in KKK robes or Hitler outfits, shouting obcentities, and performing all manner of otherwise unsavory acts. A cursory glance at the video will certainly reveal images of apparent racism, bigotry, sexism and generally unwarranted insensitivity. It is only by understanding the larger message that one can put context to this video (or, heaven forbid, laugh at it).

Simple disregard of the video's blatant satirical appeal is central to billing the party as an act of "ignorance and bigotry". This is perhaps the reason why our input has been largely avoided these past few days. It seems that on Friday the 10th, there was an "open" forum to which neither we nor anyone else involved with organizing the party were invited. On Monday the 13th, a second forum was held that we were again not invited to.

In the light of recent events, the most prevalent response to seeing the video footage of the MOCPE has been largely a reflexive outcry against racism. Being told that the video contains racist, sexist, or homophobic elements, viewers immediately feel that they should be offended-- and they react accordingly. Now, the dominating argument being made against the MOCPE is that it somehow supports all manners of bigotry, or shows that Willamette students are actually far more close-minded and racist than we all thought or even feared. Citing the MOCPE and saying that it is indicative of this kind of mindset at Willamette is plainly false. As a matter of fact, the MOCPE stands as a sign to the contrary. The party actually degraded racist (and other negative) ideals, and it is quite clear that the students that attended it were not bigoted; they couldn't have been.

It's important to keep in mind that a person will not be offended by the viewpoints with which she agrees. Stated plainly, this seems to be so clearly true as to be beyond confusion. However, avoiding this fact is the only way that one can continue to assert that the MOCPE stands as a horrifying example of racism, sexism, or any other such disagreeable 'ism'. When seeing images of Hitler goose-stepping around our party, the only way that one can hold that this supports racism is by affirming that the student that dressed as one of the worst genocidal dictators in history actually agrees with his insane Nazi views. This is obviously a mistaken assumption. Would the student have dressed up as Hitler for the MOCPE if he agreed with the late German? Or does it make more sense (and is it more funny) to assume that he was actually directly mocking everything that Hitler stood for?

When you put on a costume, you don't automatically stand as a representative of all of the values embodied in your garb. The thousands of people that dress as pirates every year don't adamantly support raping and pillaging, and the prevalence of that particular costume is not a sure sign of a disturbing lust after booty in our modern society. The people that attended the MOCPE weren't espousing racist, classist, or homophobic viewpoints at all. In fact, they were mocking them. That would imply that the event showcases a group of students that are not in fact racists or bigots, and should be encouraging to the University.

In the end, the accusation that the MOCPE supported or endorsed bigotry is ridiculous. The ensuing conversation about the evil of racism isn't a debate, but a foregone conclusion to which any of the attendees already agree. It is therefore puzzling to us why this controversy has transpired the way it has with a barrage of stock McCarthean accusations.

What we can hope to take from this is some fruitful conversation about the nature of political correctness, and what it means to be offended. Stepping back from the impassioned fervor surrounding the controversy, it is possible to see how the MOCPE raises interesting and complex questions about the nature of appropriate behavior. One might ask, "is it all right to purposely offend people"? Or, perhaps more tellingly, "why did so many people find the video funny?". Before the recent backlash against the MOCPE, we receieved an overwhelmingly positive response to the party and the video. Hundreds upon hundreds of comments remaining on YouTube speak to its widespread appeal. We don't believe that this pronounces everyone who laughs at the video a bigot. A better explanation would be that the party, the video, and their aftermath have made an insightful and humorous commentary on the extremes of political correctness.

We hope that the MOCPE encourages further conversation which does not consist in imperious denouncements of an obviously misrepresented costume party, but in constructive dialogue about the larger issues at hand. Please feel encouraged to offer us your thoughts on the subject.

Sincerely,
Mat, Graham, and Alex