Drag Ball Posters Offend Student

To the Editors:

I am writing in regards to the posters that have been put up on campus about Drag Ball. These posters provide instructions on how to appropriately dress for Drag Ball. But they do a lot more than that. They are strict guidelines on how one has to dress for Drag Ball. That, in itself, I think is offensive: this is a campus dedicated to individual self-expression, and to impose a sort of dress code is antithetical to the spirit of Oberlin. If the posters only went this far, this much would be offensive.
What is even more offensive is the insistence on the part of the LGBTU that everyone who wants to attend the event be dressed in drag. LGBTU sponsors this party, but there are several other campus entities that co-sponsor it. I have been to Drag Ball before in plain clothes, and I was of no harm to anyone. I went to enjoy the music and spend time with friends. I did not harass anyone at the event and I do not believe my presence negatively influenced the atmosphere in any way.
Oberlin only has two all-campus parties each year. I enjoy attending these events as being part of the community. If Drag Ball is to become an exclusive affair, limited to those who will only participate in all aspects of the event, then I believe that we, as a community, need to talk about the event, and consider what it means to exclude people.
I am not certain if these guidelines are actually going to be enforced. If they are, I would argue that, in the interests of freedom of expression, and inclusiveness, the Oberlin student body ought to boycott this event. I would also suggest that if these exclusive limitations are to be imposed, the College ought to arrange for another all-campus party that will be inclusive.

–Mark Engleson
College junior