A recent article written by Simon Oreci for the College Fix shows that over the past decade, many universities have pushed a politically correct, woke agenda onto students, advising them on how to appropriately dress up for Halloween without offending certain groups.
Olek said campus leaders have long made it their mission to warn students against “unacceptable costumes,” such as “wearing Native American headdresses, wearing sombreros and dressing up as ‘Mexicans,’ dressing as ‘geishas,’ and avoiding any form of blackface.”
“Students were reprimanded not to commit the crime of ‘cultural appropriation’ if the clothing does not originate from their own culture,” Orechi said.
The university’s events have even grown to include special workshops to ensure students are “up to date” about current culture.
Olek cited several examples of schools that have gone too far with the woke Halloween mentality.
In 2017, Princeton University held an event called “Conversation Circle: Cultural Appropriation and Halloween,” where students were taught about “cultural appropriation and the effects of Halloween, and why culture is not just costumes.”
The University of Southern Indiana held a Halloween workshop titled “Culture, Not Costumes.” They wanted to acknowledge that “clothing, symbols, music, art, religion, language, and social behavior” are all elements of cultural appropriation, and to remind students not to dress up as “Pocahotti” or “sexy Indian princesses.”
Furman University in South Carolina, known for having a more conservative undergraduate student body than most state universities, revealed in October 2019 that the school’s Educational Individual Rights Foundation’s Speech Code of the Month had told students they would be investigated if they “encouraged people to wear costumes or behave in a manner that is degrading or reinforces stereotypes.”
The University of Texas at Austin released a 29-point checklist for offensive Halloween costumes and inappropriate party themes, warning students to avoid “exotic” or “unique” themes such as “cowboys and Indians” and “tropical” or “fiesta” concepts.
Another school that has embraced the Halloween awakening is Michigan State University. The school had an Inclusive Excellence and Impact department that promotes DEI, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Orek said the school event told students that while Halloween is a day to wear costumes and celebrate spooky things, it can also be the basis for racist, sexist, ableist, culturally insensitive and bigoted behavior.
But in 2025, most schools appear to be scaling back attacks on students who may be wearing “politically incorrect” clothing. Olech notes that this could be the reason, as the university has removed DEI staff and programs.
