Yesterday I noted that the University of Texas looks as if it is about to join the growing ranks of universities that violate the civil rights of students in order to punish them for wearing blackface to parties. Today's Daily Texan reports that UT is advancing steadily along that path. A group of offended students is filing a formal complaint about the costumes, and the Dean of Students, Teresa Graham Brett, has vowed to punish the offenders. She "found the costumes highly offensive," the article notes, and "is looking into actions that can be taken against the fraternity":

"I feel like this has really harmed the entire University community," Brett said. "There is already a lot of tension on campus right now around a number of issues, and I think this just adds to that tension. We are going to look at all possible avenues trying to hold them accountable."

Usually in such cases very few people actually get to see the offending costumes. There is often no photographic record of them, and if there are pictures, they don't make it into the press. Outrage feeds on ignorance, and the anger of the community sustains itself on imagined visions of what the costumes must have been like. The Daily Texan, however, is letting readers see for themselves what all the fuss is about by running a picture of some of the offending costumes. Faces are blurred, but you can get a pretty good idea of what all the fuss is about if you look closely. One of the more heinous costumes reported is of a white man covered in black paint, wearing a chain and padlock around his neck. You can see him in the picture. I had originally pictured the chain as tight around his neck, the lock as close to his face, and the impression one of the abject slave. But the chain is worn loosely, as jewelry, and the impression given is much more that of the rapper than the slave, much more that of a humorous homage to black music than a bigoted celebration of slavery. See what you think.

UPDATE: For more pictures of students in blackface, and for a wider historical perspective, check out Captain Yips' recent scanning efforts.