Brock University controversy

What began as a Halloween costume contest at Brock University has erupted into a full blown controversy with a group of professors accusing the student union of endorsing racism.

Some of the pictures in this story may be offensive to some viewers.

It was a photo that sparked the controversy. Four men dressed up as the Jamaican bobsled team from the movie ‘Cool Runnings’ for Halloween.

Roland Erman, Brock University Students Union: “I’ve had some students say they were definitely offended by the situation.”

And so was a group of Brock labour studies faculty members who wrote this letter to the administration that says such costumes are not just a joke.

“Regardless of the intent or motivation of the students in question, donning blackface for Halloween is never okay.”

Blackface cemented racist perceptions and essentially ended with the civil rights battles of the 1960’s.

The Brock University Students Union got in front of this controversy within hours.

Roland Erman: “This was an oversight on our part. This can be stopped. We can ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

It’s launching an awareness campaign. And vetting costumes in the future.

Graham Donn was at that Halloween party: “After people saw they won and the pictures were posted, then there was a little bit of an uproar.”

“(Do you find it offensive?) Can I just not say anything about it, sorry.”

“No, I don’t find it offensive.”

Neither did this young man, who did not want to be identified: “It was just Halloween. I don’t think they meant anything racial about it. Just friends having fun.”

The second person in this photo is not wearing dark makeup. He is a black man.

Brock University President Jack Lightstone responded to accusations today that the university was going overboard on political correctness. He said this was not a matter of political correctness, but social awareness.