By: Jordan Graber
Content Warning: This article contains a racial slur.
From the candy to the decorations and the costumes, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. When I was young, I loved to dress up as the basic Halloween ensembles like Count Dracula and Sleeping Beauty.
As I grew older and became more exposed to the overarch of social media, I became more aware of the issues surrounding the cultural appropriation and essential jokes made by seemingly innocent costumes worn on Halloween.
In this new light, I began to understand the distaste of several of the costumes that I have chosen to wear over the years, such as my gypsy costume or my Native American princess. These were costumes that, at the time, I thought nothing of but in reality, have negative connotations and may be seen as oppressive and offensive to certain groups.
Just last year, a sophomore attending University of Central Arkansas sported “blackface” to a fraternity party on campus, posing the famous comedian Bill Cosby. After posting a photo of his get-up captioned, “It was a bold night,” the image went viral and he received large amounts of outrage and backlash, which included threats against his life. He later posted an apology on Instagram which outlined his regret of the offense that he had caused, as well as the fact that until that night, he had apparently never heard of the term “blackface” or the negative connotations that went along with it.
Unfortunately, it is a common misconception that these costumes are okay, and the student is not the only one who doesn’t realize the serious offense taken in misrepresentation. This includes, but is not limited to, Julianne Hough sporting blackface while dressing as a popular Orange is the new black character, young people dressing as “sexy terrorists,” a young woman dressing as a Boston marathon bombing victim, sexy ebola nurses, eskimos and Native American chiefs. These costumes continue to be mass produced and sold in everyday stores and Halloween pop-ups, driving the idea that these are somehow actually okay to wear.
Intentions do not matter when representations are all that people can see. Disney princess or not; think about the ramifications. You can choose to be whatever and whoever you want for a day, just don’t make it at the expense of another.
Costumes are a fun and exciting way to be what you can’t be everyday. By no means is this something that should go away, but a certain amount of consideration is required when deciding what to wear.
Representations, whether they are recreational or intentional, call for some sensitivity.
Dressing to represent any sort of lifestyle or experience that is not your own is offensive and oppressive to the identity of another, no matter what the intention is. The people that we may want to dress up as represent real lives, experiences and histories.
A “sexy “gypsy” costume can be worn for a fun (and hopefully legal) night and then taken off the next day, but the person wearing the costume may not understand the very real harassment Romani people face in Europe. Likewise, one can dress up as a “sexy terrorist” for a Halloween bash while there are real Muslim men and women out there who are discriminated against based on this awful stereotype.
To make a costume out of something that represents the experience of another is to make fun of a group’s passions and struggles. It deems their life experiences unworthy of real acknowledgement, insinuating that these lifestyles are ones that are thoroughly understood by all. Traditions, heartbreaks, tragedies and passions are all made into nothing more than a costume. It strips people of their individuality.
Cultures are not costumes. Gender or sexual identities are not costumes. The sexualization of real people and minorities, and costumes referring to violence against women is not okay. Essentially, if you have to ask yourself if what you are wearing is culturally appropriative or offensive in any way, it might be time to get yourself a new ensemble.
There are people who face real discrimination, poverty and violence as a part of their everyday identity. This Halloween, be mindful of the costume you are choosing to wear. Intentions do not matter when representations are all that people can see. Disney princess or not; think about the ramifications. You can choose to be whatever and whoever you want for a day, just don’t make it at the expense of another.
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Since Halloween is a weeklong holiday around Hamilton and McMaster, there’s no shortage of fun events to attend. Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, so no doubt this upcoming weekend will be filled with spooky events to dress up for (because apparently we have to celebrate starting Thursday and throughout the weekend.)
Party stores are pumping the prices on costumes, and partying in a different costume each night can get expensive. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey on Halloween spending habits, this year on average people will spend $86.13 US. And that doesn’t even include nightly festivities, like alcohol or bar cover.
Personally, my favourite part of Halloween is getting creative and making my costumes from scratch. So for those who are planning on partying multiple times this weekend and don’t want to shell out money on multiple expensive costumes, I’ve got you covered with cheap, easy DIY costumes that will be sure to make an impression at any McMaster-adjacent Halloween event
If you’re having trouble finding cheap materials, I suggest Value Village, Dollarama, the Campus Store, and Bunz Trading Zone.
Marauder Football Player. Re-use your homecoming outfit, or buy a jersey from the campus store and you’re instantly a Marauder Football Player! Bruise up your face to look fresh out of rookie training, and if you’re committed, puff your shoulders all night to make you look more intimidating than you actually are!
What you’ll need:
A Party. “Cause baby you’re the life of the party…” If you’re looking for the most low energy costume there is, grab some streamers and red solo cups from the corner store and pin them to your entire body. Realistically, your costume will be a disaster by the end of the night, but that’s just commitment to character.
What you’ll need:
Terri, the dancing Tim Hortons lady. Pay tribute to one of McMaster’s best Terri, the dancing Tim Horton’s employee from the student center. Bring a Timmy’s coffee cup to house your choice beverage for the evening, and do her winning dance whenever you or your friends win at beer pong or need to celebrate.
What you’ll need:
Spotted at Mac. Transform yourself into the iconic student anonymous Facebook page by covering yourself in maroon spots and being everyone’s secret keeper for the night. Relay anonymous messages to and from people at the party and play cupid (or the devil) behind the scenes. For extra effect, start questionably controversial debates with a group of people and slowly walk away to let disaster ensue.
What you’ll need:
TwelvEighty Night + security guard. For the couples who are looking for a cute, matching costume this Halloween, a TwelvEighty night out and security guard is the easiest bang for your buck. One of you can adorn whatever you wear (or used to wear) to TwelvEighty, and the other can be the bouncer.
What you’ll need:
Sobi Bike. Be the chang(ed) (gear) that you want to see in the world. If you’re a fan of our blue transport cycles, then being one for Halloween is a great option. If you’re feeling flirtatious, you can even offer rides.
What you’ll need:
HSR Bus Driver. If you’re planning on showing up to the party really late, or maybe even not at all, this costume for you!
What you’ll need:
What are you planning on being this upcoming weekend?
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https://www.facebook.com/events/281752632341266/
When: Oct. 28 at 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
Where: 134 Mary Street (30-minute bus ride)
Local paranormal enthusiasts claim that the Cannon Knitting Mills building is as active as ever this Halloween. The massive space, rumoured to be built in the 1850s, has been boarded up and inaccessible to the public for years. ‘Spooky Steph’, a paranormal investigator from Haunted Hamilton will be leading a search for ghosts through the run down building. Bringing EMF meters and pendulums is encouraged. Tickets are $20.
https://www.facebook.com/bizarrosfactoryoffear/
When: Oct. 27 – 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: 367 Highway 5 West (15-minute drive)
There’s a thrill that comes with finding yourself lost amongst projections, animal cages and a pig-man hybrid waiting for you in a dark corner. Bizarro’s Factory of Fear delivers this nightmare in two 53-foot tractor trailers on a 64-acre property in the middle of nowhere: Dundas.
There’s live entertainment and campfires during the night, and curious explorers can also walk amongst Egyptian mummies and life-size wax figures of serial killers in the Museum of Oddities. General Admission tickets are $15, and you can add a VR experience for an additional fee.
https://www.facebook.com/thezoetic/
When: October 20 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: The Zoetic Theatre (45-minute bus ride)
Psychological thrillers complete Halloween, but completely ruin the chances of getting any sleep afterwards. The Shining is one of the world’s scariest movies and a Halloween classic. The unforgettable Grady Daughters will be making an appearance on the big screen at the Zoetic Theatre, followed by a short horror film courtesy of the Hamilton Film Festival. Tickets are $11.50.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1985361261685997/
When: Oct.28 at 12 p.m.
Where: Gore Park (20-minute bus ride)
Is your local cemetery missing a few zombies? Chances are they’re gathering at Gore Park and living bodies are invited too, but only if they can blend in. Take Ezekiel’s advice from The Walking Dead, and fake it until you make it. Dress in your worst attire and head to the Zombification Station for a make-over of a lifetime. The walk will start at 1 p.m. and end at the Brew Café and Bar for the afterparty. Non-perishable food donations are encouraged.
https://www.facebook.com/events/160018634580539
When: Oct.27 at 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Where: 85 Oak Knoll Drive (12-minute walk)
If midterms got you scared enough and you need to wind down this Halloween, head out with your friends for a relaxing hike and games hosted by Smiles for Sickness. The one-kilometre trail will be lined with festive jack-o-lanterns to guide you through Westdale Woods. Donations are encouraged and proceeds will go towards the Cootes Paradise Home & School and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Staying in Hamilton over Fall reading week? The Silhouette has your back with a whole list of events to keep you busy and away from doing school work.
https://www.facebook.com/events/824276797751460/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Ping Pong and Trivia are a great way to liven up your Monday night.
https://www.facebook.com/events/831478037027572/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Whether it be All Star by Smash Mouth or Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler, everyone has a karaoke song! Belt your hearts out at Avlyn's Lounge this Monday.
https://www.facebook.com/events/361040504337771/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Interested in capturing the beautiful human body through drawing? Come to the Cotton Factory at 7 p.m. to get hands on experience. The event is $10.
https://www.facebook.com/events/144482469499576/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Learn to yield the powers and effects of natural essential oils! They can help south headaches, injuries and stress. The cost is $4 to join, which covers the cost of the materials to make your own blend.
https://www.facebook.com/events/354430398329701/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
You get to meet an adorable mini pig, and learn more about how your meat diet affects animals. You earn $5 if you sit down and watch a seven minute VR documentary of a pigs life, from birth to slaughter.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1882658278618188/
Trivia nights can help keep your brain in thinking mode throughout reading week. For $5 at Lou Dawg's, you can participate to keep your mind sharp and maybe win some prizes.
https://www.facebook.com/events/121071081891508/
Already an improv pro and want to master your skills? Staircase Improv is offering a weekly drop-in class run by AD Andrew Hopps. Haven't tried improv yet? You can watch as an audience member for free!
https://www.facebook.com/events/356709921445747/
Missing your tiny dog because you're not going home for reading week? Well the Extra Small Dog Social is an event you probably will enjoy. A bunch of small dogs all hanging out, what's not to like? You can go schmooze with these floofs all evening for $25 bones.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1130817327049414/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Another trivia night? Hell ya! The Honest Lawyer's 90's Trivia Night will definitely put you in the mood for Halloween, focusing on cult classics such as the Addams Family, Hocus Pocus, Casper and Halloween Town. It's $5 per table and you get bonus points if you show up in costumes.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1743936279244322/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22[%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22page%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22page_upcoming_events_card%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A[]%7D]%22%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D
The Factory Media Centre is continuing its current exhibit by hosting a Lunch and Learn with an interactive, behind-the-art workshop. Guests can learn the techniques and processes behind the work.
https://www.facebook.com/events/177781306117416/
Has school gotten in the way of you getting your craft on? Now's the time to make up lost time with a Halloween themed DIY. There's four different options to choose from: Fall/ Halloween welcome sign, Scarecrow, Fall/Halloween directional sign, and a Teal pumpkin project sign.
https://www.facebook.com/events/124626931511646/
Owning a bike is easy, but upkeep and maintenance are often forgot about, until you end up with a flat tire. For $25, this workshop will teach you how to do a safety check, repair and change a tire, adjust brakes and gears, check bearing systems, and other basic maintenance.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1822637284422368/
Hamilton sure does love it's beer and yoga events. Join Barb for in brewery yoga to stretch and drink your worries away.
https://www.facebook.com/events/122838721754316/
For the more fashionable Marauder, there's a fashion show and action happening at Michaelangelo Events and Conference Centre. There's no info as to what styles will be shown, but all the proceeds go to the Dr Bob Kemp Hospice.
https://www.facebook.com/events/264739650711895/
Not into small dogs? Maybe medium puppers is more your size. Bring your dog or go sans pet to the Medium Dog Social at My Dog's Cafe on Locke St. S.
https://www.facebook.com/events/617103042012500/
Casino Art Space hosts a monthly poetry night called Moon Milk. October's guest is Chelsea Tadeyeske, who is a poet whose work is rooted in exploring shame, trauma and desire. The event is free for all and is an open mic, so you can test your poetry skills as well.
https://www.facebook.com/events/118467325530623/?ref=br_rs
Redchurch Cafe hosts a monthly pay-what-you-can swing dance! Go eat, enjoy the gallery space and learn an old school dance. Redchurch also hosts different styles of dances throughout the month, so be sure to watch out for other styles.
https://www.facebook.com/events/118211255527071/
The ultimate Throwback Thursday event, the Art of Tea and Tasseomancy and Mystic Tearoom is hosting a Practical Magic screening. There will be a short discussion about the movie before hand, popcorn and alcohol free margaritas!
https://www.facebook.com/events/132172830754859/
Comedians Joe Botelho, Ally Dick, Drew Hayes, A Hassan Chaudry, Tyler Dombroski, Derek Kurisco, Dan Brennan, Kevin Spencer, and Michael Moses take the stage at the Spice Factory. If you need a laugh (and a distraction from the impending school week) be sure to check out this event at the Spice Factory.
https://www.facebook.com/events/751277955064256/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Calling all musicians and performers! Come perform in front of a full audience at the Rust City Brewery. If you're not one for sharing your skills, you can always sit back and support local talent.
It's that time of the month again. Even though Supercrawl is the big festival of the year, there's still plenty of artists to support and vendors to check out. While James St. N will still be busy, you'll get a much less hectic evening of art.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1754729071488040/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Perfect for a date night, or a solo trip, Hammer Night Live will have you laughing by the end (or start) of you Friday evening. It's free so even if the comedians aren't funny, there's nothing to lose.
https://www.facebook.com/events/256914624778352/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Time to put on your yellow and black because it's football night in Hamilton. Take to the stadium to support the Hamilton Tiger-Cats against the Calgary Stampede.
https://www.facebook.com/events/864691380375894/
Looking to attend an event that will make you think and have tacos's? The Tower is hosting a fundraiser to help raise money for SubMedia, an anarchist and anti-capitalist video production company.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1912153915702874/
Have a story you feel needs to be heard? Story Slam is the art of competitive storytelling done in a slam poetry style. This month's theme is Friday the 13th, and focuses on ghostly encounters, creepy crawlies and nights gone terribly wrong. Listen as an audience member or tell a devilish story of your own.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1953794118229446/
There's nothing like a good, wholesome corn maze and bonfire to help welcome in the cold weather. For $12 cash, you can get a bus ride and entrance to the corn maze.
https://www.facebook.com/events/142783662993750/
Running throughout Art Crawl, HAVN will be showcasing portraits from artist Ariel Bader-Shamai, as well as launch a new quarterly zine, Solecism. Solecism focuses on the blunders of using film to shoot, and how that can be interpreted as artistic.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1449306875189075/?acontext=%7B%22source%22%3A5%2C%22page_id_source%22%3A1475860179383908%2C%22action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%2C%22mechanism%22%3A%22main_list%22%2C%22extra_data%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22page_id%5C%22%3A1475860179383908%2C%5C%22tour_id%5C%22%3Anull%7D%22%7D]%2C%22has_source%22%3Atrue%7D
If you're an early riser and a Hamilton foodie, Mes Amis Catering is opening a Creperie & Apera Bar at the Hamilton's Farmers Market. Their new menu includes 100% gluten free crepes, smoothies, arepas, soups, salads, and sweet treats.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1189553797854749/
The Understudies promise a night of terror and laughter as they take spooky Halloween suggestions for their improv show.
https://www.facebook.com/events/301583650317762/?ref=br_rs&acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Are you more of a wine person than a beer person? Toast Bar has you covered with a mindless meditation involving wine! While tickets are $45, snacks, wine tasting and good company is included in your afternoon.
https://www.facebook.com/events/444984245879031/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
The up and coming indie rock band, Current Swell is taking to the Casbah stage on Saturday Night and is set to give Hamilton an unforgettable show. Their latest album, When To Talk And When To Listen, was produced by Grammy-winning producer Jacquire King (Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids, Of Monsters and Men) and is told to play for include rich songwriting and vibrant musicianship.
https://www.facebook.com/events/473082876406156/
Hamilton has a haunted past and Haunted Hamilton is here to take you on a tour of all the spooky and scary things this city has to offer. The Oct. 20th tour is already sold out, so make sure to book your tickets early to experience haunted Hamilton.
https://www.facebook.com/events/122679748440957/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
Every weekend, the Black Sheep Snack Bar hosts a delicious brunch! Checkout their website for a sample of their hearty menu.
https://www.facebook.com/events/679540868903720/
If you'd like to dance away the calories you consumed during reading week, then SalsaSoul Sunday could be a fun evening for you. $10 at the Spice Factory gets you a salsa lesson and the option to be in the salsa social.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1422787681173942/
Yes, another drinking and exercising event. Enjoy an intimate yoga class lead by Trisha from Namaste Local, and after, a glass of Canada's national cocktail, a Caesar. Tickets are $20.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1411821102198249/
End reading week with a (head) bang by checking out the rock shows at Doors: Taco Joint & Metal Bar on Sunday night. Bands Flesh Rag, Rik and the Pigs, Radiation Risks will be taking the stage starting at 9 PM sharp.
https://www.facebook.com/events/879314002226541/?ref=br_rs&acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D
If the other spooky events on this list weren't enough for you, then Bizarro's Factory of Fear should fill your dark heart throughout the week. The attraction is on until the end of the month, but you should make use of your reading week to get spooked, because by the time exams come around you'll already be screaming.
With Halloween just around the corner, you won’t need any more prompting to indulge in some spooky fun. Save the candy for later in the week and check out some of Hamilton’s supposedly haunted spots. Check out these places on Devil’s Night…if you dare.
Century Manor (Near the corner of Fennell Avenue West and the North side of Governors Boulevard)
Old insane asylums are about as freaky as it gets. The thought of mentally unwell patients (oftentimes criminals) being administered electro-shock therapy is enough to make one shudder, but some of the stories about the tunnels that have outlived the original building are enough to make one scared to death. Though the asylum itself has been demolished and replaced with a modern psychiatric hospital, the tunnels that stretch from the manor to Mohawk College’s Cellar Pub are said to be haunted by the asylum’s nurses. Next time your Mohawk friends ask you to go for a pint, you know to say “no thanks!”
Custom House (51 Stuart Street)
Considered by many paranormal aficionados to be the most haunted place in Hamilton, the Custom House has seen its fair share of murders. From the deaths of innocent servant girls, to fifteen men being buried alive in its basement, the Custom House will daunt the most grizzled ghost veterans. The spirit of a young boy is purported to flit about the second floor, where his giggles can be heard as he tugs guests clothing.
Dundurn Castle
While it’s toured by old and young alike by day, Dundurn Castle is said to be the unlikely home to many ghostly apparitions. Sir Allan MacNab, a Premier of Ontario for a period of two years before Confederation, occupied the splendid estate with his family and their spirits remain to this day. It is said that a mysterious draft blows out candles outside the room where MacNab’s second wife died, and music is heard throughout the house.
Tivoli Theatre (James Street North)
While theatres often play host to outlandish tales, what happened at the Tivoli Theatre will outstrip the wildest imagination. Ambrose Small was Hamilton’s leading theatre magnate until he disappeared in 1919 without a trace. Some time afterwards, an odd trunk was found inside the theatre bearing Small’s name. The trunk held a skeleton! Though it was initially thought the skeleton matched Small’s frame, it was never confirmed as it mysteriously disappeared before a forensic team could arrive from Toronto.
The Hermitage Ruins (Sulphur Springs Road)
The Hermitage Ruins sit in a tree-lined forest and are said to be haunted by William Black, the coachman for Col. Otto Ives in the early 1800’s. After his courtship of Ives’ niece was rebuffed, Black hung himself in the stables of the mansion and his spirit is said to haunt the ruins to this day from where his body is buried at the cross-roads of Lovers Lane. Cellphone reception can be scanty in this area of the Dundas Conversation Area, so proceed at your own peril.
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Halloween easily makes my top three favourite times of the year. Being a student during late October is a fantastical time when the student body seems to come together in a show of mutual admiration for costume-wearing, alcohol consumption and pagan rituals (not so much for the last one).
And typically, I have a great time getting into the spirit of Halloween. That is, right up until someone decides it would be absolutely hilarious to mock the culture of my or anyone else’s ancestor’s via inappropriate and offensive costume.
I was scrolling through Facebook the other day when I decided to open the “Free & For Sale — Clothes” group operated under the McMaster Facebook community, one that requires all members have an authorized “@mcmaster.ca” email. Most people were listing their gently used denim and more than gently used footwear, and then I saw it: an ad selling used Halloween costumes, posted by a student, with the most “liked” costume being “Rasta Mon,” a grotesque mask portraying what is supposed to be a Jamaican man (blackface, anyone?), complete with a Jamaican flag beanie and dreads, and a marijuana leaf necklace. Students were commenting on the post, tagging their friends in it, making claims like “this is exactly what we’ve been looking for!” No. Just, no.
Two years ago, The Silhouette confronted the university’s Campus Store about their ridiculous stock of culturally offensive Halloween costumes. Like clockwork, this issue has returned, and this time at the fault of the student body as opposed to the university.
How long will it take for people to realize that a culture is not a costume? Not only should you not be dressing in this manner, but you should definitely not be posting about it in groups affiliated with your university. I’ve said this multiple times, and I’m going to say it again — McMaster is a school that prides itself in its diversity. It celebrates and welcomes all its students, yet for some warped reason, our student body still fails to see the issue with this trend. What are we doing wrong? At what point should we be educating our students about these issues? Is the university responsible for educating students beyond the classroom? Is our university failing to provide its students with a social education?
As much as it seems like Halloween seems to bring our student body together, how together can we be if our dress and trends still other those around us?
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By: Gizelle Panton
#1 - Emoji
Simple, cute and funny. All you need is a yellow dress or t-shirt and a matching skirt or pants, black shoes and fabric markers. Simply choose an emoji face and draw the face on your shirt with the markers (try to make it look as close to the iPhone emojis as possible). However, if you are not confident with your drawing skills, simply print out your emoji on an iron-on transferable sheet and iron it directly onto your costume.
#2 - Netflix and Chill
Affordable, easy to make and guaranteed to draw a chuckle from your friends. Costumes that embrace puns are especially useful for all you lazy folks out there. A popular one this year is the simple “Netflix and Chill” costume idea. All you need is a red t-shirt with the Netflix logo printed on it, a pair of black shades and a bag of ice that you can carry around to really heighten the punch line. Bonus: If you don’t want to carry ice around all day, you can use an old stuffed pillowcase, and label it “ICE.”
#3 - Pumpkin Skull
For those who are skilled in art and are willing to do a costume that is equal parts horrifying and economical, this is for you. The materials needed for this costume include an entirely black outfit, gray eye shadow and black and white face paint. Start by covering your face in white face paint, leaving circles around the eyes (you can set your paint by lightly dusting it with white face powder). Fill in the eye sockets with black face paint, making the black circles wide enough to reach the tops of your eyebrows and to the top of your cheekbones. Create a triangle outline with black face paint on the nose, creating two peaks at the top instead of one and fill it in completely. Now it’s time for the jagged smile! Extend your smile by drawing two black lines that start at the opposing mouth creases and end along the same line that your eyebrows end. Draw and fill in medium-sized triangles along the top and bottom of your line, covering the lips. With gray eye shadow, draw a set of frowning eyebrows above the area where your real eyebrows are to emphasize the serious look of your face, and dust-grey eye shadow along your hairline to add depth to your skull. Voila! You’re ready to go out and scare the town.
#4 - Throwback Hippie
It’s always nice to bring back old fashion statements and embrace where our current trends have come from. Whether you choose 20s fashion, 70s hippie fashion or retro fashion from the 90s, throwback costumes are always easy to recreate and fun to do. Just break out the old bellbottom jeans, a tie-dyed shirt, platform shoes and a bandana to tie around your head and pull the entire look together. Go out there this Halloween and prove that the past styles haven’t been forgotten.
#5 - Super Mario Bros
These costumes are best for a group of friends. You’ll need multicoloured t-shirts and hats (red for Mario, green for Luigi, pink for Peach, etc.) and a set of denim overalls for each character. For Princes Peach and Daisy, you can either choose to wear overalls as well, or wear a pink/yellow pleated dress or a matching t-shirt and skirt. Bonus: if you are travelling to your destination with your friends, you can choose to travel on bikes with balloons that match your colour tied to the back to help enhance the effect.
Photo Credit: vrpowell2000 on Imgur
By: Daniel Aruz
Last year, the McMaster Campus Store was forced to remove controversial Halloween costumes from its shelves that were stocked as part of a pilot program. That partnership with costume retailer Party City will not continue this year, and as a result, the Campus Store will not be stocking any costumes this year.
Party City’s decision to pull out of the campus market was supposedly unrelated to the removal of the offensive costumes. Donna Shapiro, Director of the Campus Store, assured that the volume of costumes sold in the previous year could not match the sales in the standard pop-up store locations, meaning Party City decided not to return. Sales for the costumes were slow, and only really began in the week leading up to Halloween.
“They had a ton of costumes so they could have picked different ones and we could have went with it again, just the volume wasn’t there,” said Shapiro.
The pilot program was started last year but was met with an outrage from a large group of students when images of offensive women’s costumes began circulating online.
The costumes, including “Cutie Eskimo” and “Sexy Indian Princess” were promptly pulled from Campus Store shelves after numerous complaints online, from members of the First Nations Student Association and through a petition for their removal which garnered 500 signatures.
“We tried to seek out another partner with the thought that we would then go through Student Union and Human Rights to vet what the costumes would be that we bring in, but we weren’t able to find another partner,” she said. “We provided the sales from the previous year and nobody was really interested in pursuing it.”
However, this may not be the end to Campus Store costumes or similar partnerships in the future.
“We are always looking for pop-up stores and partners, be it that or be it some other organization so that we can offer some diversity and products to students, and we can use up some of our space that isn’t used in the month of October after rush.”
By: Mitali Chaudhary
As Halloween approaches, your room might be feeling a little left out from the DIY costume-making, candy-gorging festivities. Here are a few cheap and fun ways to boost it up from a weepy “boo” to a BOO!
1. Cheesecloth Cobwebs
A step above the usual dollar store cottony mess, cheesecloth webs are much more substantial and can be reused for several years. They can be hung in doorways, windows, or simply against bare walls, and give a creepy feel when they’re cut up, ripped, and frayed to perfection.
2. Spooky Garlands
Although they take some scissor work, garlands are versatile and can instantly liven up a room. Virtually any shape (for example skulls, pumpkins, or black cats) can be printed off, traced onto coloured paper, then cut and hung on a piece of yarn. A simple paper garland can be made even more interesting by adding beads, felt cut-outs, or pressed leaves.
3. Provocative Pumpkins
Plain old pumpkins, though they essentially represent Halloween, are so last year. To make them more fun (and to bring out their colour even more) bats and ghosts can be stencilled on using spray paint, or they can even be completely covered with glitter. The possibilities with this plain orange canvas are endless.
4. Textiled Ghouls
These cute little guys decorate windowsills especially well. All that’s needed is a handy square of cheesecloth draped over a styrofoam ball. A bent paperclip can be used to hang them up. Wide eyes drawn by a Sharpie complete the look, and beg for more cheesecloth ghost friends to hang around with.
5. Window Watchers
Similar to the garlands, shapes can be printed off, traced onto and cut from coloured paper, then stuck on windows. In the daytime, you’ll be able to see bats fluttering across the glass and at night, when they’re backlit, others outside can appreciate your Halloween cheer too.
The McMaster Campus Store came under criticism this week for controversial choices in costumes available for sale. The store offered Halloween costumes for the first time this year as part of its expanded merchandise.
But not all the costumes went over well with McMaster students.
The selection of costumes available included racially offensive offerings such as “Sexy Indian Princess” and “Eskimo Cutie,” both designed for women.
Photos of the costumes were published in executive editor Jemma Wolfe’s editorial on The Silhouette’s website on Oct. 25, in response to the offerings in the Campus Store and cultural appropriation during Halloween. The images were circulated online, bringing the attention to the wider McMaster community—and provoking a major outcry.
Donna Shapiro, Director of the Campus Store, explained that the organization had not anticipated such a response.
“We didn’t really even suspect this angle as we started down this road,” Shapiro said. “I guess it’s been a long time since I’ve been in a party store to look at what costumes are available.”
Upon hearing of the available costumes, fourth-year Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour student Alan Rheaume started a petition asking that the Campus Store immediately remove the costumes, calling them “obscene and offensive towards Indigenous students at McMaster and aborad [sic]” and arguing that they violated the MSU’s Anti-Oppression Policy.
“I started the petition…so we could end this offensive business practice that has no place in an institution of higher education,” said Rheaume, who is a member of the McMaster First Nations Students Association.
“My goal was not only to get the costumes removed from the bookstore, but also to spread awareness about the widespread cultural appropriation inherent in Halloween celebrations.”
Rheaume’s petition, started on change.com, was established hours after the photos surfaced on Friday, Oct. 25. He was seeking 500 signatures; by the time it closed later in the weekend, 543 people had signed.
The Campus Store pulled the racist costumes less than 24 hours after complaints were made, removing them from sale before the store opened on Saturday.
Even through the controversy of the selections, observers praised the store’s swift response.
“I was happy on that front…for the [Campus Store] listening and being willing to respond like that,” said MSU President David Campbell of the quick remedy.
While the removal of the costumes was a welcome response, the problems associated with the sale of the costumes still resonated in the Mac community.
“Inappropriate Halloween costumes are not specific to McMaster, however we are concerned when such costumes appear within our own campus community,” wrote the McMaster Indigenous Studies Program and Indigenous Services in a comment to The Silhouette.
“[This] has been an embarrassment to the entire McMaster community, and hopefully these events can spark a dialogue on critical thought and informed decision making.”
The release referred to a third costume that was also deemed offensive for its endorsement of rape culture. In addition to the racially insensitive costumes, the Campus Store sold a football-themed costume marketed to women with lettering on the shirt saying, “tackle me.”
“The issue of costumes at the McMaster Campus Store extends beyond the problematic representations of Indigenous peoples, and Indigenous women specifically, as there were other costumes that were also offensive to other groups that condoned rape culture.”
The costume in question was pulled in the afternoon on Oct. 26, shortly after the original two were removed from sale.
The store had pursued Halloween costumes as a way to boost sales in October.
“Things slow down in the course materials area [in October], so we have some transitional space,” explained Shapiro. “Halloween was just a good fit because it happened to fit the timeline.”
The idea to stock costumes came from Deidre Henne, McMaster’s Chief Financial Officer and Associate Vice-President (Administration), who worked with the Campus Store to help boost revenue. The store has faced declining profits in recent years from decreased textbook sales, seeing a drop of 10 to 20 per cent per year, but is still mandated to contribute its profits, usually roughly $1 million, to the Student Affairs and University Operating budgets.
“They would not have sold costumes…had I not suggested it,” said Henne, who described the decision to stock them as “an innocent one.”
As proposed by Henne, the Campus Store sought a partnership with Party City, a New Jersey-based retailer. The company traditionally establishes a bunch of “pop-up” stores across North America seasonally for events like Halloween, but used their deal with Mac as an opportunity to pilot selling stock in a campus setting.
Party City rented the space from the Campus Store, and stocked the same selection of costumes that is available in their regular locations.
“There was nothing in front of that for vetting their costumes,” said Shapiro.
Considering the reaction, Henne concluded, “on-campus screening is probably necessary.”
“Hindsight is 20/20,” she said. “I think by bringing [these costumes] onto campus, it put a different lens onto it. I think in fairness it’s a good lens to put on it, it’s just about what appropriate actions the Campus Store should take when those things are arranged.”
It remains to be seen whether the Campus Store will continue to sell costumes in future years.
