The UW-Eau Claire College Republicans have been under fire following an Oct. 28 Instagram post depicting the events of their on-campus meeting last week.
The post featured photographs of Halloween costumes worn by meeting attendees, including one individual dressed as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
In an image that was later deleted from the original Instagram post, the person dressed as an ICE agent is seen “arresting” another meeting attendee. UW-Eau Claire’s Young Democratic Socialists of America called their attire “an insulting, racist caricature of a Latinx person” in an online statement.
A screenshot of the post started trending on Reddit, and several news organizations including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WQOW and the Wisconsin State Journal covered the issue in the days following.
The College Republicans have not responded to The Spectator for comment on this matter.
Fred Kappus, chair of the Republican Party of Eau Claire County, said he attended the meeting and that he believes the costumes were all in good fun.
“I think this thing is just so funny,” Kappus said. “It’s current, it’s contemporary.”
In an Oct. 29 press release, the 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party of Wisconsin condemned what they called “hateful and unsafe rhetoric” expressed by the College Republicans.
William Garcia, chair of the 3rd Congressional District Democrats, cited recent nationwide issues surrounding college Republican groups taking part in racist behavior.
“At a time when College and Young Republican organizations nationwide are facing scrutiny for racist behavior, leaders of groups like the UW-Eau Claire College Republicans must be especially vigilant about preventing and condemning offensive conduct,” Garcia said in the release.
Kappus said he disagreed with the condemnation of the costumes. In a response letter to the 3rd Congressional District Democrats, he wrote, “Your motivation, of course, with this press release is to smear, besmirch and portray these conservative students as racists. A typical Democrat tactic. Your feigned outrage is very transparent.”
Fourth-year psychology and women’s gender and sexuality studies student Halcyon LeRoy said they were initially “shocked” when they saw the post.
“In general, my experience on this campus has been one of inclusivity, so I was very upset and distressed to see that kind of behavior happening out in the open,” LeRoy said.
Cynthia Greening of local organization Chippewa Valley Indivisible said she felt the post was inappropriate.
“If what ICE was doing was fair and just and good, the Republicans on campus wouldn’t be using it as a Halloween horror,” she said.
On Oct. 29, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Gregg Heinselman sent an email to faculty, staff and students with the subject line “Free Speech and Free Expression” addressing the Instagram post and subsequent backlash.
After describing the incident, Heinselman wrote, “UW-Eau Claire strongly supports every person’s right to free speech and free expression, and the university remains committed to ensuring that campus is a place where a variety of opinions and beliefs can be shared and celebrated.”
Heinselman went on to say in the email that civil dialogue and peaceful engagement are critical to the learning experience at UW-Eau Claire.
“I would encourage that campus community members keep in mind that Halloween celebrations are intended to be fun, inviting, and welcoming, and not a glorification of someone else’s potential hardship,” the email read. “We can and must do better for one another as a community.”
LeRoy said they did not feel the email sufficiently addressed the issue.
“I felt very disappointed getting the email, especially in the wake of the (Center for Restorative Practices) closing,” LeRoy said. “In the past, that center would have been something that we could have relied on to help educate the people who decided this was okay.”
LeRoy said that in the absence of the center, they would have liked to see the administration talk to students and organizers from the College Republicans to explain why people in the community may have reacted negatively and to emphasize the potential harm in wearing such a costume.
“Of course, people can dress in any Halloween costume they choose,” LeRoy said. “But, we all understand why it’s harmful to do blackface, for example. I think it’s similar to that — you can do whatever you want, but there are certain things that as a society we should agree not to do because it’s harmful to other people.”
Amid ramped-up ICE detainments in Wisconsin, and with NPR calling it “the deadliest year for people in ICE custody in decades,” the work of the federal agency remains a hot-button topic across campus and nationwide.
Wojahn can be reached at [email protected].
