The committee proposed a resolution to the BFA some time ago regarding the racial insensitivity that black face and body paint could portray. According to BFA representative Professor Martin Walter, these concerns have yet to produce any actions against black face and body paint at school sports events.
“It is not clear what is going to happen,” Walter said. “I think the Diversity Committee is rewording the resolution. The Diversity Committee might bring it up again but it is not a guarantee.”
Joseph Rosse, professor and BFA chair, had no comments on the issue because the modified version of the proposal has yet to be discussed and the work is still in progress.
A sensitive issue for both students and faculty, some say potential actions against face painting traditions call into question free speech rights. Walters said he thinks the school already has a pretty good grip on regulating the actions of both students and faculty members.
“There already exist many, many regulations and resolutions regarding how faculty and students are supposed to behave under just about any situation imaginable,” Walter said. “There also are laws against ‘hate speech’ about which there is some discussion of their constitutionality. But costumes can be considered ‘speech’ by some.”
Some students said they do not see the connection between hate speech and black face paint. Annabel Feider, a 19-year-old sophomore history major, said she does not believe students are trying to cause harm when covering their face and body in black paint.
“I don’t think there is a racial bent to people covering themselves in black, because they are representing team colors,” Feider said. “We wouldn’t have the same problem if our colors were purple and white.”
Walter said he thinks that the potential problem with black face paint might not be such an issue if all people had a better moral code.
“The bottom line is that if ‘most of us’ shared a culture of mutual respect, borderline activities would not likely be interpreted as meaning to cause ill feelings, and such activities most likely would not intend ill,” Walter said.
The concerns raised by the committee stem from a theater act in the 1800s known as “blackface,” when white actors used to cover their face with black makeup, creating racial stereotypes. Feider said she does not see where blackface fits in with the scenario.
“There is no connection between blackface of the late 18th and early 19th century and a bunch of drunk idiots at a game,” Feider said.
Chris Scully, a 21-year-old junior and chemical engineering major, attended a football game dressed in black face paint from the waist up with three other friends with no ill intentions in mind, he said.
“I just think they are blowing it out of proportion,” Scully said. “It is just school spirit, no one is doing it to be racist, I’ve seen it at every football game.”
Walter said he agrees, pointing out that one of the students painted black with Scully was in fact a person of color.
“Since one of the young men in the picture is apparently a person of color, it lends some substance to the argument that the students involved did not intend disrespect to people of color,” Walter said.
Jill Gilmer, an 18-year-old freshman English major, said she does not think people do it to racially offend, but understands where the Diversity Committee is coming from.
“I can certainly understand why people could get offended if it is meant to be racist,” Gilmer said. “But I don’t think students are doing that for racial reasons.”
Walter said that this could all blow over soon because of the multiple preexisting resolutions the school has in regard to sensitivity about racial issues.
Until further action is taken, students like Scully say they will not stop showing school spirit in the way they want to.
“We are probably going to do it again,” Scully said. ”I don’t think we should stop showing school spirit, we are just doing it for fun.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Rachel Hersch at Rachel.hersch@colorado.edu.
