(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)The staff at West Virginia University has been triggered by a costume worn by one of their students. The garb was deemed “offensive” by some of the more sensitive liberals. Do you see a problem with it?
A fourth-year student from West Virginia University has become the subject of an investigation after a complaint was lodged over the costume he wore for Halloween. Joseph Cortese posted a picture of his Halloween costume on Instagram, causing some users of the social media platform to become offended.
Cortese originally posted the photo in question before Halloween, but a complaint was not filed until November 6. Apparently, it took administration more than a month to follow up with the student.
The photo shows Cortese, wearing an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement black hat and a Border Patrol t-shirt, handcuffing a female student who dressed up with him for Halloween. The girl is wearing what Cortese called an illegal alien costume with a piece of paper attached to her shirt that reads “illegal.”
Last Tuesday, in the middle of final exam week, Cortese was sent an emailed letter from an assistant dean notifying him that he is “the subject of an investigation regarding alleged prohibited conduct.”
“This letter serves to put you on notice that pursuant to section 9.2 of the Student Conduct Code and Discipline Procedure for the Main Campus of West Virginia University, you are the subject of an investigation regarding alleged prohibited conduct,” Assistant Dean LiDell Evans wrote.
“I received this email Wednesday and have had awful anxiety since,” said Cortese. “While I was trying to study for finals, this was looming on the back of my mind. I know I didn’t do as well on my finals as I should have due to this.”
Cortese, who is also the Communications Director for Students for Trump, said that during the meeting, Assistant Dean Evans told him the costume could be “misinterpreted the wrong way” but acknowledged that it was Cortese’s “constitutional right” to wear it.
“The West Virginia University Office of Student Conduct received a complaint claiming the student was posting ‘vulgar hateful Instagrams’ but did not single out what was ‘vulgar’ or ‘hateful’ about them,” WVU said in a statement.
“The Office followed standard procedure, including the timing, to follow up on the complaint and talk with the student,” the school added. “The Office tries to wrap up any matters before students leave campus at the end of each semester. No charges or disciplinary action was taken and the matter is now closed.”
Pro-civil liberties non-profit Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) said they are “aware of this case and looking into it.” According to FIRE, “Public universities enter treacherous terrain when they investigate expression protected by the First Amendment.”
Of course, this is not the first time that a Halloween costume has become the subject of controversy. Indeed, it seems that every year now, as the holidays approach, an inevitable conversation surrounding “cultural appropriation” must be had. Now, it’s off-limits for white girls to dress up like Pocahontas or Moana. And, apparently, you can’t dress up like the Border Patrol, either.
How sad. Border Patrol agents ought to be lauded as heroes, not deemed so “offensive” that young people are prohibited from dressing like them for Halloween. Not only do these officers do the dangerous job of securing our porous southern border, but often times, they act as first responders when immigrants are injured while making the arduous trek into our country. Citizens and non-citizens alike ought to be very grateful for their service, not complaining when they are idolized via costume.
