This video shows the moment dozens of students encircled a Yale University official and screamed at him for sending an email telling them to ignore people dressed in offensive Halloween costumes.

Nicholas Christakis, the master of Silliman College at Yale, was surrounded after telling students to allow others to exercise free speech by wearing what they wanted on Halloween.

He was shouted down on Thursday as he tried to explain why he believed students should be able to wear what they want, with one young woman yelling at him and telling him to 'shut the f*** up'.

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A student (in bright top) screamed at Yale college master Nicholas Christakis after he said he would not stop people from wearing Halloween costumes that could be seen as offensive

He was shouted down as he tried to explain why he believed students should be able to wear what they want, with one young woman yelling at him and telling him to 'shut the f*** up'

The email - sent by associate master Erika Christakis, Mr Christakis' wife - said: 'If you don't like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended.

'Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are the hallmarks of a free and open society.'

However, some students saw this as a free pass for people to wear offensive costumes that could be seen as discriminatory.

One girl - seen in a video published by The Fire - launched into a expletive-ridden tirade at sociology professor Mr Christakis, who was trying to tell her why he felt the university should not censor what people wear.

She shouted: 'Be quiet! In your position as master it is your job to create a place of comfort and home for the students that live in Silliman. You have not done that.

'By sending out that email, that goes against your position as master, do you understand that?'

One girl (left) launched into a expletive-ridden tirade at sociology professor Mr Christakis (right), who was trying to tell her why he felt the university should not censor what people wear

When Mr Christakis said he did not agree with her, she replied: 'Then why the f*** did you accept the position?

'Who the f*** are you? You should step down. If that is what you think about being a master you should step down. Do you understand? It is about creating a home here. You are not doing that.

EMAIL THAT INFURIATED STUDENTS 'I don't wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation. 'I know that many decent people have proposed guidelines on Halloween costumes from a spirit of avoiding hurt and offense. I laud those goals, in theory, as most of us do. But in practice, I wonder if we should reflect more transparently, as a community, on the consequences of an institutional (which is to say: bureaucratic and administrative) exercise of implied control over college students. 'I don't, actually, trust myself to foist my Halloweenish standards and motives on others. I can't defend them anymore than you could defend yours. 'Nicholas says, if you don't like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended. Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are the hallmarks of a free and open society.' Advertisement

'These freshmen come here and they think this what Yale is? They're going to leave. They're going to transfer because you are a poor steward of the community.

'You should not sleep at night. You are disgusting.'

She then stormed off before a shocked Mr Christakis had time to reply.

He had earlier told the large group that 'other people have rights too' and that he did not necessarily support people wearing offensive costumes.

According to the Yale Daily News, he said: 'I apologize for causing pain, but I am not sorry for the statement.

'I stand behind free speech. I defend the right for people to speak their minds.'

The email from Mrs Christakis had said: 'I don't wish to trivialize genuine concerns about cultural and personal representation.

'I don't, actually, trust myself to foist my Halloweenish standards and motives on others. I can't defend them anymore than you could defend yours.

'Nicholas says, if you don't like a costume someone is wearing, look away, or tell them you are offended. Talk to each other. Free speech and the ability to tolerate offence are the hallmarks of a free and open society.'

The protest at Yale came as a fraternity at the college was accused of instituting a 'white girls only' policy at a party the night before Halloween.

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) chapter had been having a party on October 30 when a group of girls were turned away by a brother because of their race, students claimed.