Blue and White Flash / Staff Writer – Tyiesha Johnson
I never imagined being able to experience attending an Historically Black College until I chose Jackson State. While I was touring Jackson State, I noticed the beauty of the campus but along with beauty, there were several distractions.
There was trash thrown among the walkways, profanity being used loudly on the plaza, and the most visible distraction was seeing students inappropriately dressed.
I often see people walking into class with their music playing loudly, men sagging, and females dressing for more of a club scene rather than achieving an education at a higher learning institution.
Professors and administrators should not have to ask students to dress or behave a certain way in the classroom nor on campus; it should be expected and we should always present ourselves as adults.
Should the students at Jackson State be able to dress and behave themselves however they want to or should the University enforce the Student Decorum Policy that students should abide by?
According to the Jackson State Student Decorum Policy, “Dress standards promote learning by establishing expectations that will reduce educational distractions as well as help prepare students for later success. These restrictions are minimum requirements that will result in a warning or disciplinary action if not followed. The University expects and strongly encourages its students to adhere to the higher standards of appropriate dress on campus and at University events as recommended in the Student Handbook.”
Because Jackson State is an institution for higher learning, I believe that students should conduct themselves properly and abide by the policy to promote the University’s mission for the benefits of all its students.
Some students at Jackson State spoke strongly against the Student Decorum Policy.
Correll Dear, a freshman early childhood education major from Jackson, Miss. said, “Jackson State is a college and students should be able to express themselves and their swag according to their lifestyle and likings.”
Other students supported the Student Decorum Policy.
Charlecia Brown, a junior computer engineering major form Greenwood, Miss. said, “We are all of age. Dress conservatively; respect yourself.”
“Club clothes should not be worn walking down the plaza. Choose how you dress; make it appropriate,” said Raquel Araujo, a sophomore art major from London Ontario, Canada.
I decided to research the facts about other HBCUs to see what actions they were taking to enforce a dress policy.
Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. enacted the “Appropriate Attire Policy.” The policy states, “The college forbids the wearing of do-rags, caps, and hoods in the classroom and other indoor venues. Sagging pants and clothes with offensive messages are also prohibited.” This code is not enforced to punish the students nor forbid them to dress comfortably.
It is similar to the Jackson State Student Decorum Policy, which states:
“Lewd or obscene dress shall include attire or the lack thereof that leaves visible an area of the body that traditionally within the locality has been considered private and indecent to expose publicly, and that also lacks artistic or creative value within a particular University curriculum. Traditional private areas shall mean the breasts, buttocks, or areas proximate to the reproductive organs.”
So you see, asking the gentlemen to pull up their pants, and remove their caps in class, shouldn’t be a problem; neither should expecting students to be cautious of their language, dress modestly, and to clean up after themselves. So let’s remind ourselves that as students of Jackson State, we want to represent our school by respecting the campus, ourselves, and others around us.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.
