There have been a whole bunch of stories lately about college students holding parties with themes like “ghetto,” “gangsta,” and “politically incorrect.” (See related articles list.) I wouldn’t be surprised to see folks at a “ghetto party” in wifebeaters and carrying 40s and whatnot. The line of acceptability might be a little blurry, but a white guy showing up in blackface is way over the line. Add to the fact that a lot of these parties were held over the Martin Luther King, Jr holiday weekend, and there is clearly an offensive, racist bent to the whole thing.

Come to find out one of these parties was held at Macalester College, took place on school property, and is currently under investigation by the Macalester College Harassment Committee.

The costume involved one student dressing as a Ku Klux Klan member, with a second student wearing face paint to appear dark skinned. The costume also included a simulated noose, one end in the hand of the Klan-costumed member, the other end around the student with the blackface’s neck.

Tell me what is not offensive about that.

One of the students under investigation had this to say:

“I think that if I had sensed any hostility to what I was wearing, or had anyone appeared offended, I would immediately have taken it off,” the student said. “There was a variety of equally offensive costumes, and given the variety, the response targeted to one costume in particular is unfair.”

Tree falls in forest and no one hears it, yadda yadda yadda. This kid sounds to me like he’s more mad about being singled out instead of being at all concerned about what he actually did.

David Nifoussi attended the party.

“It was a lighthearted atmosphere, with no hostility, and no one at the party seemed to be offended,” the student said. “I do think it’s a lot heavier to hear about the party after the fact. Not because of the party itself but because of the way the party was portrayed both in President Rosenberg’s statement and through the rumors that have started flying around.”

Hearing about the party as opposed to personally knowing the people involved changes the presentation of the party, according to Nifoussi. “These people [attending the party] weren’t trying to hurt anyone,” he said. “In a place where stereotypes and acceptance are so politically correct, it was a fun idea to try to go against that.”

“And I suppose we shouldn’t really be surprised at the outcomes,” he added.

No. No you shouldn’t be surprised. Newsflash, kids: Just because you didn’t mean to be offensive doesn’t mean you weren’t. I don’t know if I’m more appalled that they had the party in the first place or that the kids at the party don’t think that what they did was inappropriate.

(via Racialicious)

UPDATE: Discussion at mnspeak and on LJ.