This piece reflects the views of the author, Olivia Decklar, and not those of Emerald Media Group. It has been edited by the Emerald for grammar and style. Send your columns or submissions about our content or campus issues to letters@dailyemerald.com.

Accepting cultural appropriation so people can continue to “exchange” cultures is problematic, to say the least.

After reading the recent article that urges readers to dress up in sombreros this Halloween, my jaw dropped. Was I actually reading that a reenactment of the violent way white people have destroyed cultures and claimed them as their own is acceptable?

While wearing a sombrero is not necessarily the same as painting a white face in black, Emerald opinion writer Mateo Sundberg’s example opens the door to the same demonstrative racism as blackface. Sundberg is not Mexican, and therefore his body and culture is not for society to “try on.”

This conversation about cultural appropriation still continues and even some artists find it acceptable. In 2013, singer Katy Perry culturally appropriated by dressing as a geisha at the American Music Awards. Los Angeles Times guest blogger Nico Lang wrote that Perry’s problematic behavior, “highlights the power imbalance that remains between those in power and those who’ve been historically marginalized.”

When one’s culture is appropriated, justice is out of sight. If appropriating cultures is acceptable, harming the people of those cultures is then somehow justified. Allowing people to take a piece of someone’s culture and pretend to be a part of it perpetuates the racist ideas that are letting Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump swear to deport 11 million “Latino families.”

Black bodies were made into costumes for stereotyping in “The Black and White Minstrel Show,” a glaring fact in the history of the United States. However, people still paint their lighter-skinned faces black on Halloween because they want to “try on” being black for a day. Because it happens to be Oct. 31, this racist behavior is unacceptable.

According to Sundberg, however, by cultural appropriating, people are able to “exchange” cultures. If a person is not part of a culture, they can never be a part of it. To say cultural appropriating is “exchanging” makes little sense, as to exchange means to give and to share in return for something. People whose cultures are appropriated by those outside of their culture are given nothing in return but waves of anger, hurt and humiliation.

Racism is seething in this country and cultural appropriation is only making that fact more alarmingly true. To culturally appropriate, or “try on” another culture, this Halloween is to say systematic racism is absolutely justified.

In order to make this society a better world for all people to live in, everyone needs to respect one another. This Halloween, respect other cultures by not wearing their traditions for entertainment.

Note: Olivia Decklar wrote for the Emerald in 2015. She currently has no affiliation with the publication.

**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Alexis Mansanarez, the sports editor at the The Daily of the University of Washington.**

Thirteen will be Washington’s lucky number as it travels to Autzen Stadium to face Oregon on Saturday night. The Ducks (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12) have not have much success recently as they will travel back to Eugene on a three-game losing streak.

The Huskies (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) hope to claim bragging rights over their northwest rival for the first time in 12 years. Led by quarterback Jake Browning and the Pac-12’s top scoring defense, the UW will do the unprecedented and beat Oregon on its own turf.

In the past, Washington had trouble scoring against and containing Oregon on both sides of the ball. This season, the undefeated Huskies show no signs of slowing down, bringing the conference’s best scoring offense to face one of the Pac-12 worst scoring defenses in the Ducks.

Browning enters the weekend with the second best pass efficiency (196.3) in the FBS and has a total of 17 touchdowns under his belt and plenty of targets to look to against Oregon’s shaky defense. Wide receivers John Ross III, Dante Pettis, and Chico McClatcher have just over 800 yards combined, more than half of what Oregon has allowed all season.

With tight end Darrell Daniels, tailback Myles Gaskin, and true freshman receiver Aaron Fuller also making large contributions on offense, the Huskies will have no problem moving the ball down the field.

What has plagued Washington in the past is Oregon’s explosive offense, but this year the Huskies have a dynamic defense that can even stop one of the nation’s top running backs. If the UW could stop Heisman-hopeful Christian McCaffrey, it will have no trouble stopping Royce Freeman, who averages 8.3 yards a carry.

The Ducks have been mediocre protecting their quarterback, and Washington’s defensive front is hoping to exploit that. The Huskies are good for a conference-leading total of 21 sacks for a loss of 123 yards, and they can do more than just rush the pocket.

Washington leads the nation in fumble recoveries (11) and takeaways (15), and have added 52 points to the scoreboard off turnovers. A mistake from Dakota Prukop could be the deciding factor in Saturday’s game, and with two interceptions on the books, the nonstop pressure of Washington’s ‘Death Row’ will surely cost Prukop.

The UW has arguably its best team since its championship season in 1991. Just as Oregon has fallen from the top of the Pac-12 North, so will its 12-game winning streak.     

Reach Sports Editor Alexis Mansanarez at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @almansanarez

**Editor’s Note: Each week during football season, we feature an essay from the opponent’s student newspaper on why Oregon will lose. This week’s edition is from Justin Michael Guerriero, the sports editor at the CU Independent.**

I was more than convinced that Colorado would beat Oregon in Eugene as the first few weeks went by. But last week in CU’s 45-28 loss to Michigan, senior quarterback Sefo Liufau was pulled just after halftime with what would turn out to be a sprained ankle.

So I feel I must include a disclaimer here: If Liufau plays, the Buffs will beat Oregon. If not, then I don’t like their chances. For the sake of argument let’s say that Liufau does in fact play. (Head coach Mike MacIntyre said repeatedly after practice this week that if Liufau looks good enough to play, then he will, so we’ll see. It’ll be a game time decision.)

Colorado boasts one of the more experienced rosters in the Pac-12. On both sides of the ball, the team returned the vast majority of its 2015 starters.

CU’s receivers versus Oregon’s secondary will be a key matchup, one that I think the Buffs will win. The Buffaloes’ receiving core is made up of medium-sized, speedy guys who have been excellent at not only winning their routes against the defense, but also pass blocking.

Shay Fields, Jr. has been a favorite long range target of Liufau. In fact, he burned Michigan’s all-senior secondary last week for a 70-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Wide receivers Bryce Bobo and Devin Ross have also looked impressive. They’ve been good about getting off the line of scrimmage quickly, and thrive in the short-to-medium-range distance.

Defensively, the Buffs have even more playmakers. Senior safety Tedric Thompson has been a staple of the defense for years now. Colorado did lose its best outside linebacker for the year in Derek McCartney, who tore his ACL in the Michigan game, but senior linebacker Kenneth Olugbode and sophomore LB Rick Gamboa have been good up the gut. I have faith in them stopping the Ducks’ run attack.

Perhaps most impressive on the defense is senior defensive back Chidobe Awuzie. Trust me, by the end of this year, frequent watchers of ESPN and SportsCenter will know him very well. He had a sack and forced fumble last week against the Wolverines and is a great route-reader.

I think Colorado’s offense will come out of the gate and score some early opening punches against the Ducks, just as it did against Michigan. However, the key here is whether or not the Buffs can maintain a lead and close out this game.

In closing, the Buffs will win this game because they are more experienced and polished than they were in 2015. Looking in from the outside, I’m just unable to say that about the Ducks.

Last year, the Buffs were a few less bonehead mistakes away from beating Oregon in Boulder. I think this 2016 Colorado Buffaloes team is ready to exit the cellar of the Pac-12 Conference. Taking down the powerful Oregon Ducks would be a solid start.

Score prediction: 34-21 Buffaloes