Comments on: What Do You Think About The Morehouse Dress Code?

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:00:26 +0000

To Regina: I think agreeing to disagree will be best. We’ve both demonstrated that we care about the role of black men in society, although our perspectives are a little different. I think what is important is that we are willing to have this discussion in an open and respectful manner.

I think that is what I like most about this site, it is geared towards mature adults. I can’t tell you how many sites I’ve been on where discussion quickly devolves into juvenile name calling. Parenting is a tough job, the hardest in the world. Society is set up against us, so good luck to you and yours and have a blessed day.

By: Regina

Regina — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:14:00 +0000

To Bryan: While I understand that these are “adults” per se, these are adults that are new to the world at large. I would love to say that the only thing that matters in life is your character and spirit, and that you should be judged by such, but that is unrealistic and life is not fair. We are in a position and in a time when we want to be taken seriously and given the opportunity to show that we have the same qualifications as anyone else, on the job or gaining capital for our own businesses. Our young men will not get that opportunity in a halter top and pumps. Not my favorite quote, but “it is what it is”. So no harm Bryan, we will agree to disagree.

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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:40:14 +0000

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By: Dee

Dee — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:02:19 +0000

Life is about learning lessons. School is a microcosm for life. Unless you are institutionalized you have the right within reason to express your individuality, or in a lot of cases conformity with or opposed to societal norms. Moorehouse being a private institution has decided to set certain standards for their institution. That is their right as that institiution, just as it is the right of the students to disagree or rebel against those standards. This is where the lesson comes in for the youth. They certainly can exercise there right to express themselves through their dress, at the institution, as long as they realize and are ready to deal with the consequences (disciplinary action etc.). The school could also face consequences in the form of demonstrations from the students which could prove disruptive (If the students chose to go that route). This whole exercise is simply a life lesson. As someone who has been in corporate America all of my post graduate life, I know that I could make the decision to come to work, dressed like a complete thug, as long as I am ready to deal with the consequences of my action (Disciplinary action, and more subtly, the perception of my peers, mentors and superiors). I simply choose that my continued employment and status is more important than expressing myself in that way for the 8 hours that I am at work. It does not mean that I don’t have a bunch of tats that cant be seen because I choose to cover them, or the kind of music I listen to on the ride home or what I wear if I go out when I am not at work. It simply means that I have chosen what is more important to me. This is a good life lesson being provided by Moorhouse in decision making for these young men. One final note in this lesson, life is not, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be what we as individuals at any given moment or situation be considered FAIR. What’s most important and where you grow is how you react to these circumstances and the decisions you make as a result.

By: cheddachasa

cheddachasa — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:01:57 +0000

This is why I was never interested in going to a HBCU. No one told me how to dress or if a member of the opposite sex could stay in my room or not. I wasn’t going from a home where my mom never bothered my about my very baggy clothing or gave me a curfew to an institution that threw a bunch of restrictions my way.

Now I do understand the underlying reasons why these rules were created when the schools were first founded, but times have changed. The majority of students today are quite savvy about the world and what it expects of them, where in the past I’m sure the majority of students had to be groomed into adults.

These are kids! Just because they go to class with tight, sagging jeans and a hat to the side doesn’t mean they don’t know how to dress appropriately for a job interview. And if they don’t know how to dress professionally, who’s fault is that? The parents.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:24:36 +0000

To Regina:

I can understand that this your job as a parent. It should be all our jobs, but these aren’t your kids. These are adults. Plus understand, for the majority of undergraduates the line between class time and your time is blurred if you live on or near a campus. Morehouse instituted a dress code for when people go to it. How is that not personal time?

To Quanda: So how is going to be the one to say what is and isn’t appropriate clothing? Do we want all men to look like Carlton Banks? Plus, Morehouse instituted this policy in the middle of the semester. Tuition had been paid, classes have started. If people disagree with the policy what are they supposed to do this semester. Yes, they can leave next semester, but for this one they are stuck there.

Again, I think it has to be pointed out, no one is saying that these adults are wearing this clothing to a job. It’s to go to class, take notes, and go grab a bite to eat.

By: Quanda

Quanda — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:57:17 +0000

I think that it is time to set/reinforce a standard. Our youth and young adults have no clue as to what is appropriate attire for social settings. The clothes you wear also tend to adjust the attitude that you have, the way you interact with others, the respect you receive. A person wearing a nice pair of properly fitted pants and shirt will be taken more serious than a person wearing a pair of jeans sagging to his ankles. Under wear is called that for a reason, it is not for everyone to see.
For the students, parents that do not agree with the dress code, they can opt to attend another institution. No one says you have to attend Morehouse.

By: Regina

Regina — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:27:30 +0000

I can understand how anyone would feel that dress codes are trivial and meaningless in the scope of more disturbing statistics at our HBCU’s in general, not just at Morehouse. That being said, however, I agree with the school taking a stand on dress and personal representation. As the mother of teen boys, I have decided to make it my personal mission to let my kids and their friends know the importance of proper grooming and presentation. We are all just fooling ourselves if we believe that our young men can dress “thug fab” or “divalicious” and still be taken seriously in our current social and economic climate. I say, what you do at the club or on you own personal time is your own business, but it is never too early to learn to be professional in your business endeavors, no matter what your chosen or future profession.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:52:41 +0000

I can’t say I’m surprised at the comments on this board. I’m also not surprised that I disagree with all of you. These are people at school. They are not at a job interview, job, church, or any kind of formal function. I understand white people judging us by our appearance, but it is a shame that we do it to ourselves. What does the clothing worn in a classroom have to do with the education learned therein? I’m saying this as someone who doesn’t like the baggy clothes, grillz, or rap. From a fashion standpoint it is bad. So were bellbottoms, jheri curls, all those tight clothes worn in the eighties, and Cross Colours. Bad fashion, though, does not equate to the inability to learn the necessary tools to become a productive member of society. How many of you have taken the time to talk to these students to see what they really are about? The fact that they chose Morehouse in the first place tells you that they have at least some direction and ambition. Is it your preference that we return to the 1950s and 1960s when men wore coats and ties to school and women wore dresses or skirts. Let’s not forget that for most students who live on campus, the line between classes and life is blurred. You are telling students they can’t wear what they want when they go to eat lunch!!!

I’m also ashamed that we are so focused on this that we are losing sight of Morehouses biggest problems. Only 55-61 percent (don’t have the exact figure in front of me) of the college’s students graduate within six years. That is fifth in ranking behind Howard, Hampton, Spellman, and Fisk. Their endowment is also smaller than the others. They have difficulty attracting top notch faculty, and they produce very little research in comparison to the other schools (yes, even liberal arts schools need to produce research). Let’s focus on the fact that Morehouse has bigger problems than clothing. If letting a student wear baggy pants will keep him in school, then let him wear it.

As for the female clothing, I’m not even going to address how we are equating a definition of manhood with what people choose to wear instead of their character.

By: busybodyk

busybodyk — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:13:43 +0000

As a Spelmanite and the wife of a Morehouse MAN, I totally support Morehouse’s stand. I believe that there’s a time and place for everything and I look forward to my future son attending Morehouse.