A university's student union has told its members cross-dressing is as bad as "blacking up".
The comments have provoked a mixed reaction, with some welcoming the advice while others have threatened legal action, branding the university "hopeless".
Exeter students' guild published an advisory notice, titled "A Response To Banter", to coincide with Diversity Week, which runs from 19-25 February.
While “blacking up” in various guises (whether taking on the appearance of African people or Asian or Middle-Eastern people) is not unlawful, the attitudes expressed by a person while pretending an ethnic appearance they themselves do not have (ie a white person masquerading as an Arab) can be culturally and racially insensitive. Whilst you might not intend the appearance to be racist or mocking, it can appear to be both to a person of the ethnicity you are performing.
President of the guild Nick Davis told The Huffington Post UK the student leaders had not consulted with any other groups or relevant advisory organisations and published the "educational piece" to ensure the student body was aware of all the diverse groups on campus.
"Some actions taken by students may cause these people offence," he said. Davis added he thought the guidance would be "useful".
The article continues: "The fact that a group of persons is a majority does not grant them the privilege of mocking and excluding others.
"What is banter to you might be intensely insulting to another."
But Stephanie Scott, chairwoman of the Clare Project, a transgender support group, said cross-dressing is "nothing like 'blacking up'".
"The university hopelessly is trying to be politically correct and getting it wrong.
"Some trans people object to drag queens because they seem to take the mickey. Drag has been part of British society for hundreds of years. Effectively the uni is guilty of discrimination against the trans community and a legal action under the Equality Act is a possibility.
"Trans politics is a minefield for the unknowing but [the guild] should have sought advice before making this inflammatory statement."
Exeter's article continues to say the guild is aware there are "several trans-identified students at Exeter".
"To parody this appearance is crass and offensive on the same level as ethnicity."
Edward Davies, project administrator for Press for Change was more supportive, saying the advisory could "well deter men from making a parody of women and trans people".
"The emphasis is on temporary visits to what are taken to be lesser genders. The male returns to his stately manhood intact because the cross-dressing was just a leisure-based ‘tour of otherness’. However, it is important that the students were asked not to parody-cross-dress MtF because a demand not to do would have been a threat to freedom of expression."
The university would not comment on the story, saying it was a matter for the student union.