Brock University Students’ Union (BUSU) is dedicated to creating Halloween celebrations at Isaac’s Bar and Grill that demonstrate integrity and respect and which honor our diverse student community. At BUSU it is our priority to prevent costumes that reinforce harmful stereotypes around race, gender, ability, culture and mental health from entering our venues.

The Halloween Costume Vetting Protocol is a way of communicating to students what is not acceptable, encourage students to be mindful of their costume choices and prevent offensive representations of our friends, family members and co-workers from permeating our spaces in an oppressive and offensive way. Vetting Halloween costumes isn’t a matter of telling people what to wear. It’s a matter of paying respect to the stories and experiences of marginalized groups who are depicted in these costumes: their culture, history and lives should never be desecrated, but understood and celebrated. BUSU stands in solidarity by prioritizing that cultures are not costumes.

BUSU also recognizes our community includes students who wear hijab, bindis and other items depicted below. Clearly, this Protocol in no way prevents individuals from entering our space wearing their usual attire