Queen's University Says A Student Party With Racist Costumes Was "Unacceptable"

The Kingston school says it's investigating.

Queen's University says a student party where some people dressed in stereotypical costumes representing different cultures was "completely unacceptable."

Celeste Yim / Via Twitter: @celestrogen

Photos of the party have been circulating online for several days, but they came to wider attention when comedian Celeste Yim shared them on Twitter.

"A very shockingly racist party thrown by Queen's students happened and the photos made me feel sick to my stomach," she tweeted.

Some of the offensive costumes included Arab sheikhs, Viet Cong soldiers, Buddhist monks, and sombrero-wearing Mexicans.

Celeste Yim / Via Twitter: @celestrogen

Queen's principal and vice-chancellor Daniel Woolf said the event did not take place on school grounds.

"No event of this kind would be sanctioned by the university’s senior administration," he said in a statement. "If we determine that this was a Queen’s sponsored or sanctioned event, we will take appropriate action."

A student union rep told BuzzFeed Canada the party was "inappropriate" and made students "feel uncomfortable and unwelcome on our campus."

"We see this as an educational opportunity for us to engage all students in a discussion about race on Queen’s campus," said Carolyn Thompson, vice president of university affairs.

Reaction to the party and its aftermath has been mixed among students.

Celeste Yim / Via Twitter: @celestrogen

In the popular "Overheard at Queen's" Facebook group, many students say the backlash has gone too far. But others say the whole thing is indicative of a wider problem of racism on campus.

"Ugh. I am not surprised. Racist behaviour, and indifference to it, run rampant at Queens and most Canadian universities," wrote one person.

"Y'all who are defending this shit look like children," said another.