Fiesta Attire On “Ellen” Ruffles Some Duck’s Feathers
The Oregon Duck embraces a sombrero-clad student during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Thursday, January 6. Photo by Ross Coyle
University student Andrew Seistrup standing with the Sombrero he was asked to remove during a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Thursday, January 6. Photo by Ross Coyle
In honor of the Ducks upcoming participation in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, UO students gathered to make a spirited appearance, via satellite, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday afternoon. DeGeneres encouraged students to arrive at the EMU Amphitheater ready “for a fiesta.” But when some students arrived sporting sombreros, not everyone was pleased.
“I noticed they all took their sombreros off before they started filming,” said Sarah Abadi.
Andrew Seistrup said he was asked to remove his sombrero and fake mustache to, as he said, “avoid stepping on any toes.” Staff of The Ellen DeGeneres Show declined to comment on the matter.
Cory Kirshner-Lira, a graduate student in education, was concerned that people would interpret the sombreros and other costumes in a way that “reduced Mexican culture to stereotypes.”
“I don’t think it would ever be ok for me to dress as a white person… but today it’s ok to dress as a Mexican,” Kirshner-Lira said.
Others did not share her viewpoint. “As a Latino, I don’t see how it’s degrading,” said Allan Benavidas, who attended the event dressed in a foam taco costume.
“It’s just fun,” he said.
Bryan Aubineau, a University student in pre business administration, said he thought the costumes were “all part of the spirit” surrounding the event and the national championship game.
Footage from the event, which drew over 1000 students and community members, will appear on tomorrow’s episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Ross Coyle contributed reporting to this article.
In response to Kirshner-Lira’s quote, what does it mean to “dress like a white person”?
Philanthropist: when they use their public offices (i.e. athletic director) to create publicly funded projects (i.e. Knight Arena) that benefit their private-sector investments (i.e. real estate near the Knight Arena), we absolutely should and do.
Although, I’m not 100 percent clear on the chronology here. If he obtained his stakes after the arena was underway and he was no longer athletic director, I agree with you.
NUD: What exactly is wrong with that? Should we ban certain individuals from investing in particular real estate parcels based on their wealth and/or connections? If so, Kilkenny is the least of our worries. Think bigger
BFD….did you see what is in the Eugene Weekly news section this week about Kilkenny quietly investing in Nike arena district real estate ?
The FIESTA BOWL is over, Ducks are in the BCS Championship game against Auburn.
Note to Ellen,
Yeah there is no way that the Ellen show said to “dress like a Mexican,” so there should be no reason to say that its a Mexican stereotype. If Andrew took off his hat to “not step on any toes” hopefully he was referring to the hundred or so student fans standing behind him wanting their 10 seconds of TV time. I was there and had a girl with a sombrero in front of me and to be quite honest, I wished she would have taken her hat off especially since she wasn’t in the Top 10 crazy Fiesta wearing fans.
This was a great way for students to come out, show spirit either with some tortillas and a sombrero, and cheer on the Ducks that are bringing this university more than its fair share of national attention. I wouldn’t be surprised if admission rises next year. Hell, if it doesn’t I would be disappointed.