Morehouse dress code bans cross-dressing: it's not 'expected in Morehouse men'

[ccharles000]

We are talking about five students who are living a gay lifestyle that is leading them to dress a way we do not expect in Morehouse men."
-- Dr. William Bynum, vice president for Student Services

When sweeping statements like this are made, it makes you want to ask Bynum if he knows if there's a difference between gay/trans/cross-dressing, since it's pretty apparent from the ignorant statement that he probably doesn't. (CNN):



An all-male college in Atlanta, Georgia, has banned the wearing of women's clothes, makeup, high heels and purses as part of a new crackdown on what the institution calls inappropriate attire. No dress-wearing is part of a larger dress code launched this week that Morehouse College is calling its "Appropriate Attire Policy."

The policy also bans wearing hats in buildings, pajamas in public, do-rags, sagging pants, sunglasses in class and walking barefoot on campus.

Senior Devon Watson said he disagrees with parts of the new policy, especially those that tell students what they should wear in free time outside of the classroom.

"I feel that there will be a lot of resentment and backlash," Watson said. "It infringes on the student's freedom of expression. I matriculated successfully for three-and-half years dressing so how is this a problem?"

It's one thing to ban droopy drawers and dressing in pajama bottoms on campus because it looks unprofessional, but when you cross into the territory of a blanket statement about gender expression, it's discriminatory. What if a male student shows up for class dressed in a sharp tailored woman's business suit, appropriate footwear, etc? to Bynum, that's equivalent to dressing up like Carmen Miranda with a basket of fruit on her head.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/13578/morehouse-dress-code-bans-crossdressing-its-not-expected-in-morehouse-men

[MrModerate]

1. And who says you have to look "professional" in class? What's the point? n/t

[khal02]

3. Tradition

HBCU's especially Morehouse and Spelman are steeped in tradition and those unfamiliar with that tradition probably shouldn't comment. When so few of our black men and women even know how to look professional, I'm glad that these schools are still emphasizing life lessons in addition to the wonderful education they provide.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Tradition at those colleges ranks with VMI and higher than the UK or Ivy League

[MrModerate]

18. Can't speak for VMI, but most universities in the UK and Ivy League don't have dress codes . . .

Outside avoiding indecent exposure.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

27. Tradition is much more than dress codes and the HBCU are serious about theirs

[MrModerate]

33. Well, I suppose if institutions like Texas A&M and (garrgh) Liberty University . . .

can maintain their "unusual" standards of conduct, so can any other private college. Clearly, students need to research the institutions they consider attending to be sure that the campus ethos is something they can wholeheartedly support.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

34. There are a lot of legacy students at the HBCU so certainly the parents know

and I expect the students do as well. Being a Morehouse man means something in the African American community

[theHandpuppet]

14. What does cross dressing have to do with "looking professional"?

I'm curious why you think it's unprofessional.

[EndersDame]

23. Well then they should allow respectable dress suits

or conservative skirts with cardigans or sweaters. I am all for dressing nice but this is totally about trans and homophobia

[Initech]

2. What if a male student wears a kilt? It would probably blow that asshole's mind!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. I've worn mine a few times to classes

In keeping with weapon rules on campus I do not wear a dirk or a Sgian Dhub. I get some comments. Some confuse it with gay pride, at least one student a year asks me if its affiliated with white power.

[madinmaryland]

4. Can Private Colleges/schools set up dress codes?

Can private companies set up dress codes and ban certain types of clothing?

And how does a school categorize cross-dressing? I don't know what the laws are as to what private entities can do.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Pretty much do whatever they want, including uniforms.

Another poster mentioned the traditions at the HBCU and was absolutely correct. They run as deep as anything in the UK or Ivy League and they are a lot more serious about it. Very disciplined. That is clearly understood when you decide to go there.

[SoCalDem]

10. This issue is baffling to me

People get all excited & upset when someone DARES to expect their child (young adult college student) to dress "nicely", and then scream bloody murder about "personal choice", and these same parents would walk on hot coals barefoot to GET their child a scholarship to a chi-chi private school, where a BIG part of the school involves UNIFORMS..:rofl:

LIFE "requires" uniforms.. lawyers wear suits, or nice dresses/suits for the females, postal workers wear uniforms, UPS people wear 'em, cops wear 'em..lots of jobs require them.

I guess if kids want to "do their own thing" and wear "what they want", it's fine, but they should also quit complaining when no one wants to offer them a paid position/career because of how they dress, or how they present themselves to the public.

As much as we all long to be a rebel & to call the shots, there are always "rules", written or unwritten that society has for us all..

[ProgressiveProfessor]

11. Many attendees of the HBCU are legacies

Have to believe that their parents support the dress codes.

[deadmessengers]

16. Yes, absolutely.

Can private companies set up dress codes and ban certain types of clothing?

Absolutely, yes.

[greennina]

5. Maybe the 20% or so...

of the students that do it will find a better school to go to. That idiot Bynum sounds like a Republican.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Par for the course for one of those lilly-white private schools

[theHandpuppet]

12. Morehouse is an all male, historically black institution for higher learning

Or perhaps I misinterpreted your post?

[Fumesucker]

20. Sounded like purest snark to me.. n/t

[Liquorice]

13. Wow, LOL... nt

[DemBones DemBones]

21. Oh, Freddie,

you are so bad! :rofl:

[old mark]

15. Seems like the anti-cross dressing rule only applies to school

events. Many private schools have a dress code while in class, etc...

mark

[Blue_Tires]

17. i'm surprised it was that much of an issue that they had to outlaw it

or did the school just re-write the entire dress code and decide to cover 'everything' they could think of?? I'm an alumnus of the college, and during my time there in the 90s I don't recall any issues...


here is the code:

1. No caps, do-rags and/or hoods in classrooms, the cafeteria, or other indoor venues. This policy item does not apply to headgear considered as a part of religious or cultural dress.

2. Sun glasses or "shades" are not to be work in class or at formal programs, unless medical documentation is provided to support use.

3. Decorative orthodontic appliances (e.g. "grillz") be they permanent or removable, shall not be worn on the campus or at College-sponsored events.

4. Jeans at major programs such as, Opening Convocation, Commencement, Founder's Day or other programs dictating professional, business casual attire, semi-formal or formal attire.

5. Clothing with derogatory, offense and/or lewd messages either in words or pictures.

6. Top and bottom coverings should be work at all times. No bare feet in public venues.

7. No sagging--the wearing of one's pants or shorts low enough to reveal undergarments or secondary layers of clothing.

8. Pajamas, shall not be worn while in public or in common areas of the College.

9. No wearing of clothing associated with women's garb (dresses, tops, tunics, purses, pumps, etc.) on the Morehouse campus or at College-sponsored events.

10. Additional dress regulations may be imposed upon students participating in certain extracurricular activities that are sponsored or organized by the College (e.g. athletic teams, the band, Glee Club, etc).

11. The college reserves the right to modify this policy as deemed appropriate. *All administrative, faculty, students and support staff members are asked to assist in enforcing this policy and may report disregard or violations to the Office of Student Conduct. "



As a student at Morehouse, I can say I regularly broke #1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8, -- easily 90 percent of the student body daily broke one or more on the list, too...I understand the intent, but all I can say is good luck trying to consistently enforce THAT shit (especially with the students from influential families)...I predict that gray areas, along with selective and arbitrary enforcement will cause a much bigger shitstorm then the whole charade has been worth...

[Cleobulus]

19. Sounds like typical transphobia and/or homophobia to me...

does anyone seriously support this hate institution?

[QC]

30. Lots of people in this thread are trying to rationalize it, so yeah,

I would say that some people seriously support this kind of thing.

[slampoet]

22. 'not expected in Morehouse men' Until the Spring Talent Show......or

or If they pledge a frat.

or if they are a drama major.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Private school. They can do whatever they want. Don't like it? Don't go there.

God bless America.

[ecstatic]

25. I saw the segment on CNN. The rationale was that employers are coming to campus and

seeing students in "sunglasses in class, pajamas in public, do-rags, sagging pants, sunglasses in class and walking barefoot on campus" etc. and forming a bad overall impression. In the midst of a recovering economy, black men have traditionally suffered the most when it comes to securing employment and the last thing the school wants is to lose the respect of employers. It sounds like an old fashioned way of looking at it, but let's be honest, they might have a point (people are more likely to stereotype minorities).

[etherealtruth]

26. Its a private university

The school expects its students to be leaders of society .... and it has its vision of how leaders present themselves. Agree or disagree, it is a private institution with its own sense of tradition and values that defines what they consider leadership and success.

[QC]

28. "We are talking about five students who are living a gay lifestyle"

Hello! Despite all this blather about tradition and VMI and legacies and all that, the motivation is clear--put the fags in their place.

Dr. Bynum's own words betray him.

[slackmaster]

29. Heh - Morehouse

[TexasObserver]

31. I'm sure the Alumni and the administration are driven by homophobia.

The notion that there are black men on the Morehead campus openly dressing as women is more than they can stand, so this results.

It's really no different than the way Bob Jones, Regent, or some Mormon schools enforce such homophobic rules, and their conduct should be equally condemned.

[Orsino]

32. The only unforgivable crime is doing the unexpected...

...and forcing others to learn thereby. Bynum's statement merely affirms his perceived right to his prejudices.

He ought to study a little Morehouse history, and apologize.