Dunedin students revel at the annual Hyde St Party in 2014.

Dunedin students have been told not to dress "offensively" like Arabs, Nazis, Bill Cosby or Caitlyn Jenner at Dunedin's Hyde St keg party.

The Otago University Students' Association has told students to "avoid" wearing anything offensive, sparking a flurry of debate amongs students.

One said the world had "completely lost the plot", while another said those "that easily offended" should not come. Others questioned why anyone would try to offend people.

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The infamous annual student party, which moved to a ticket-only event after a roof collapse in 2012, is expected to attract 4000 revellers to the street in Dunedin's student quarter on Saturday.

The students' association, which helps street residents organise the party, released a list of costumes "to avoid" this year:

Riley Baker / Fairfax Media Costumes are standard attire at the Hyde St Keg Party.

1. Blackface. Darkening the skin for a costume has a racist history and is unacceptable.

2. Racial or cultural stereotypes. Dressing as a stereotype of a race or culture is unacceptable eg. "Native Americans", "Mexicans", "Arabs"

3. Costumes mocking culturally sensitive events eg. slavery, police brutality, Nazis.

Riley Baker / Fairfax Media Nice costumes only requested at the 2016 Keg Party on Hyde St.

4. Costumes mocking or based on stereotypes of disabled people.

5. Costumes mocking or based on stereotypes of LGBT people, eg. Caitlyn Jenner costumes, cross-dressing as humour, "camp" men costumes.

6. Costumes using gender based or sexual violence eg. Chris Brown, Bill Cosby.

In a Facebook post the student association noted it "Does not choose or police themes for Hyde St – the themes are chosen by the residents of Hyde".

"We respectfully requested that racism, misogyny and cultural appropriation were avoided."

Students on Facebook responded with humour, disbelief and support.

"Native American costume out the window," Campbell Dawson posted.

"What if I'm an Arab who dresses like an Arab?," Brendan Hay posted.

"Are we [allowed[ to have fun and smile?," Ali Cargo asked.

"Is it OK if I whiteface?", Mika Vaitupu said.

Nathan Jones said, "What's the world coming to when you can't joke about something."

"if you are that easily offended please ... don't come," he said.

Cameron Abbey said partygoers should "think about why your costume is funny".

"If you aren't able to explain it to your lecturer without sounding like an intolerant dick, it's a s***t costume," Abbey said.

Aroha Raukura said, "Cultural appropriation mightn't be a big deal to the white and privileged but it actually hits home for some people."

Tickets for the event went on sale on Tuesday morning, but demand crashed the student association's servers.

Confirmed themes for some of the Hyde St flats include "The Mile Hyde Club", "Golf Bros and Tennis Hoes", "G.I Joes and Nava-Hoes" and "Hyde gone Tribe".

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