The College Fix

The Oregon Duck embraces a sombrero-clad student during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Photo by Ross Coyle

University student Andrew Seistrup standing with the sombrero he was asked to remove during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." Photo by Ross Coyle

University of Oregon students in “fiesta-themed” costumes were asked to remove sombreros by “Ellen DeGeneres Show” staffers Thursday during a taping of the show, which aired Friday.

During the segment, Oregon students competed in a costume contest for two tickets to the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, which will be played Monday night in Glendale, Ariz. between the Oregon Ducks and the Auburn Tigers. DeGeneres encouraged students to arrive at the EMU Amphitheater “dressed in their best fiesta wear.” An estimated 1,500 students showed up.

But when some students arrived sporting sombreros, not everyone was pleased.

“I noticed they all took their sombreros off before they started filming,” said attendee Sarah Abadi.

Andrew Seistrup said he was asked by “Ellen” staff members to remove his sombrero and fake mustache to, in Seistrup’s words, “avoid stepping on any toes.” Seistrup was one of four people interviewed on air during the segment as a finalist for the tickets.

During the broadcast, a few sombreros could be seen in the crowd behind the main contestants for the tickets.

When asked about the sombreros at the event, “Ellen” staff declined to comment.

Cory Kirshner-Lira, a graduate student in education, was concerned that people would interpret the sombreros and other costumes in a way that “reduced Mexican culture to stereotypes.”

“I don’t think it would ever be okay for me to dress as a white person,” Kirshner-Lira said. “But today it’s okay to dress as a Mexican.”

Others did not share her viewpoint.

“As a Latino, I don’t see how it’s degrading,” said Allan Benavidas, who attended the event dressed in a foam taco costume.

“It’s just fun,” he said.

Bryan Aubineau, a University student in pre-business administration, said he thought the costumes were “all part of the spirit” surrounding the event and the national championship game.

Rockne Andrew Roll and Ross Coyle blog at the Oregon Commentator. They are members of the Student Free Press Association.

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