Leah Yao ’15: Starfest, an annual fundraising event hosted by the Episcopal Academy Parents Association (EAPA), has met controversy over this year’s theme titled “WhitEAffair” for being offensive and exclusive.
The title “WhitEAffair” stems from the concept of a “White Party”, where the decor and participants are dressed in white. The Starfest Committee liked the visual concept and chose “WhitEAffair” as the theme for its 2014 dinner and auction event on March 1st.
However, after invitations were sent out there were mixed reactions. Some felt the theme was offensive and exclusive because it seemed to imply racial connotations and stereotypes of EA. Courtney Portlock, Director of Diversity and Community Life, said “I immediately understood the concept and where [the EAPA] was coming from, but when I saw [the title] I knew that it would raise some concerns.”
Portlock believes that “Part of the challenge with Starfest being called a “White Affair” is that for folks who are unfamiliar with white parties or those type of attire parties, they don’t have the context. You’re bound to leave folks out because not everyone goes to galas, balls, or social events and you have this socioeconomic issue…When you’re in a community that is diverse, you have to think to yourself, ‘Just because I do it or I get it doesn’t mean everyone will get it.’ That’s why context is important.”
Sarah Baker, VI Form Dean, said “I truly believe that there was no intent to harm and that the event is being conducted in the same spirit that EAPA events are always conducted, which is with an eye on helping others and raising money for the benefit of this community and for the students.”
T.J. Locke, Head of School, responded to the controversy, saying, “I think we are constantly battling to make sure we honor everyone. If anyone perceives not being included, we feel that’s not what we want here.”
Although there was no harm intended, Locke added, “It doesn’t make the feelings that people had any less justified. People offended were people offended and we don’t want anyone to feel that way. We care about it.”
According to Locke, the Starfest Committee immediately apologized and made the decision to change the name for the event. Starfest will still visually have the same kind of theme, but is now advertised as a “White Attire Party.”
Portlock believes that this title gives the necessary context and clarifies the theme as a dress code. In comparison, Portlock said, “We don’t see ‘Black Affair’, we see ‘Black Tie Affair.’”
Brady MacManus, ‘15, agreed saying, “the word attire suggests environment rather than participants.” MacManus shared that when he saw the title of Starfest, his first thought was the aesthetic visual and not exclusivity. “I wasn’t thinking about race, I was thinking about purely colors.” However, as MacManus noted, “regardless of any intended denotation of a white affair, I think the connotation is something that should have been thought through more as the title of Starfest.”
Locke stated that some teachers were uncomfortable with the title but once they saw the apology, “they felt great about it…One teacher said to me, ‘I’m going to the party now. I’ve never gone before but I’m going this year. I want to show my support for people that cared enough to recognize my feelings and apologize.’”
Portlock stressed that “The support that EAPA provides faculty and students is crucial and critical. I know the intent was to help, to get folks excited and energized about coming to an event that does do so much for the school.”
In regards to how people from outside EA might respond to the theme “WhitEAffair” and the stereotypical impression it might give, Locke said “Of course anyone that knows us knows that’s not what we stand for.” In striving to be an all-inclusive school, “diversity issues are really important to us. We’re always working on being a better school and we think being a better school is working on all our issues of diversity.”
Portlock stated, “I think ultimately this type of situation will happen, no matter how aware we are with diversity. These are life situations. What determines our level of inclusivity is how we respond.” As Portlock stated, “These issues are not conversation stoppers, they are conversation starters.”