The College Fix

Fall term is an at-risk time for student newspaper editorial boards to write silly editorials. You might call it the “red zone” for assaults on common sense.

The Williams Record recently came up with a muddled defense of not allowing critics of feminism to address Williams College students, and today, the Iowa State Daily editorialists gave students Halloween fashion tips.

In: slutty cats. Out: controversial celebrities?

[Costumes] projected to also be among the top Halloween costumes this year? Kim Davis. Donald Trump. A Mexican. Bill Cosby. Caitl[y]n Jenner.

These are costumes that might get a few chuckles as you mingle with friends, but to a Mexican student watching you walk into the party wearing a sombrero and a mustache it is anything but humorous.

The Daily editors don’t bother to attribute their claims about the most popular costumes this Halloween, or explain whether a Mexican student is also supposed to be offended at Davis, Trump or Jenner costumes. (Their supposed outrage over Mexican-themed cafeteria days has been grossly overstated.)

Perhaps these assertions came from the Sept. 30 campus forum on “racism, diversity and inclusion,” noted by the Daily, where one student panelist shared the Mexican-costume incident, which made her “uncomfortable.”

Somehow this segues into why it’s offensive to dress as Magic Mike, though the editorial is so poorly written that’s not clear:

One could argue that people possess their First Amendment right to express themselves and dress up as whatever or whoever they want to for Halloween.

But that doesn’t make it right.

Here’s some vague advice:

We know you want to have fun on Halloween. Have fun. Be creative. If you want to go to the bars dressed like a slutty cat, dress like a slutty cat.

But be careful not to disparage “another person’s culture”!