A vibrant, productive learning environment requires a richness in the variety of voices and life experiences that are represented among everybody. The goal of SUNY Oswego is to nurture members’ abilities and capacities for appreciation of living and working together in a diverse learning environment.
It is the responsibility of each person within the SUNY Oswego community to join in creating an environment in which others can thrive without fear of hate or bias. The Bias Prevention and Response Team (BPRT) coordinates response to bias incidents, monitors and creates campus opportunities for educational initiatives to cultivate equity and inclusion, facilitates restorative conversations between parties involved in bias-related incidents, and assesses the effectiveness of the team to inform future action.
As Halloween approaches, it is a good time to think critically about cultural appropriation and the harm this can have on individuals and the entire community. According to Oxford Languages, cultural appropriation is defined as “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” Whether intentionally or unintentionally done, wearing Halloween attire/costumes that portray communities or cultures of which you are not a member may reinforce negative stereotypes about those communities and cultures, trivialize important customs and values, and belittle community members. Please consider the impacts of your holiday attire/costumes this Halloween.
At SUNY Oswego, we strive to work towards cultural appreciation, the act of listening and seeking to understand and learn from others. Through cultural appreciation we can broaden our perspectives, deepen our understanding of other cultures, and build meaningful connections. We encourage community members to engage in respectful and educational interactions with diverse communities and cultures throughout the academic year rather than limit themselves to dressing up like members of those communities and cultures for one day.
Questions to consider for your Halloween costume:
- Is my costume racist?
- Does it appropriate someone else's culture?
- Does it reference real violence or trauma?
- Does it promote body shaming?
- Does it sexualize a group of people?
- Does it contribute to stigma around mental health?
- Does it minimize sexual assault?
- Is it sexist?
Check out the Triandiflou Institute's Instagram for tips on how to avoid cultural appropriation. Additional resources may be found on University of Maryland’s website and University of Michigan’s website.
If you know of, have witnessed or were the target of an incident motivated by age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, race, religion or sexual orientation (perceived or confirmed), we encourage you to report via the following avenues.
How to make a report: You may fill out a report on the “Report an Incident website” or contact a member of the Bias Prevention and Response Team.
Visit the BPRT website for more information and to connect with a member of the team. The BPRT is available for presentations and consultations. Feel free to reach out to a member of the committee to discuss opportunities to collaborate.
We encourage our SUNY Oswego community to have a safe and fun Halloween while being respectful to every member of our community.
–- Submitted by the Bias Prevention and Response Team