What Do You Think About The Morehouse Dress Code?

Comments (23)

1. 

   DonielleMichele Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   I actually have mixed feelings about it. I totally agree with the no hats, glasses, caps and hoods in the classroom because you are in a doggone classroom. What do u need shades for? It's rude to have them on when a teacher is trying to give u eye contact and can't even see your eyes! Caps should always be taken off indoors anyway, I think. It's just a sign of respect. The t hsirt rule may be too hard to enforce b/c who says what's lewd and what's not? That leaves the door open for many many problems in the future. As for the no female attire.....ummm I don't really agree on all aspects. I don't think they should have to stop wearing certain clothing to "fit in" or stop people from staring BUT (and there is a HUGE BUT) if they choose to wear female clothes, don't go wearing a tube top and poom poom shorts to class. That's inappropriate for both male and female in my eyes. You are in class to learn not get a splinter in your behind for having your shorts too short...lol! To be honest (and this is just my opinion) I can see how a man dressing full female style can be distracting in a classroom setting or on campus period. Look at how homosexual males get gawked at in the streets period. It's not a surprise that this code is being enforced because for the most part, college is an institution that prepares u for the world and how to be a man in it. Certain rules shouldn't even have to be said but not everyone grew up with the same standards so that leaves a school to do what they have to do. S/B.....I wish these boys would PULL UP THEIR DARN PANTS ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!
2. 

   Smooth Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   It's about time somebody stood up and said this. Call me old school, which I am, but underpants were made to wear under your clothes..get it under-wear. Yeah, yeah we are glad that boys are wearing clean underwear but you don't have to show it. Everytime I see someone with their pants hanging down I wish I had a attack dog to run after them cause they can't run with the pants hanging down. Go Morehouse I expect that and more from you, after all you are grooming young boys to become men who are responsible to represent all of America. First impressions mean a lot and clothes DO make the man!!!!
3. 

   Karyn Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   What people need to realize is the foundation & tradition Morehouse is built on. They are not banning their students because they are gay, they are stating wearing female clothing is inappropriate for the all male student body. Morehouse is preparing their students for the REAL corporate world & all that comes along with being an employee of one of these Fortune 500 companies. At no point & time will those men be able to go to their offices after graduating with their degree in pumps, tube tops, & booty shorts. Save that for the weekend off campus.
4. 

   LaPreghiera Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   The dress code is not new, just several points, especially about men in female's clothing are new. They are just re-reinforcing a policy that had become slack. Give people and inch and they will take a mile, which is what has unfortunately happened, especially with the gay brothers. My real question is why would they ever believe that would be appropriate - but that is a different discussion all together. But, if Morehouse is still a private institution (i.e. be prepared to give up the gov'ment money Morehouse!), you don't have to explain yourself to no one. Take it or leave it.
5. 

   Yolanda (The Queen) Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   Men are the examples for young men and boys...Kudos to Morehouse for being a frontrunner for decency. Positive impressions go a long way!
6. 

   Aja Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   I have mixed feelings. I think that in classes or formal events yes, the school should have the right to say what is expected. However, if you are just on campus, despite the fact that I wish that everyone looked appropriate every day, these students are legally adults. Having lived on a college campus, I know there were many days when I got up late after too much partying the night before and rolled to class in pajama pants, sweat pants or whatever else was readily available. Especially when you live on campus, the campus is not really just your school, in many ways its your home and I can't completely agree with telling people that they don't have the right to feel comfortable there. Furthermore, how many people are on a campus every day that don't actually go to the school? How would they enforce those rules with those people. Like I said I think it is good that the school is trying to promote the proper way to dress to the students, but I don't know if the way they are going about it will be effective.
7. 

   Dedra Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   I'm glad that someone has stood up and held our young men accountable. Most of the men that attend that school will be the future leaders in our community, churches, corporations and homes. To become a man you have to be taught, and college is where you are taught, but it is also a learning experience. It's the place where you become an adult. Adults have to follow rules and fit into society, this is just preparing them for that.
8. 

   Harriet Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   The military woman in me applauds Morehouse College for their stance. Our regulations even state that men cannot wear earrings--whether in or out of uniform--at all! I'm all for that, because it makes soldiers, airmen, marines and seamen stand out. They are stately and respected. I think the same should be true for anyone who has respect for their appearance. When it's time to go out and find a career, unless they are developing their own business, an employer is not going to take too well to a person coming in with sunglasses and hoodie on. Even if they are trying to start their own business, getting loans and coordinating deals aren't going to take place in anything less than business casual attire. This teaches young men to carry themselves in a certain manner both in and out of class as well as on and off the job. I don't think I want to get into the whole cross dressing debate, though. I'ma leave that one ALONE. LOL
9. 

   Brinson Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

   I'm an old school, retired military officer, born and raised in Atlanta, but served all over the world. Morehouse College has always been an outstanding representation of one of our best historically black colleges and universities (HBCU). The school has always prided itself for instilling more than just academics in its students. Under the leadership of those like Dr. Benjamin E. Mays manhood, strong moral character and a mind trained to think were the unwritten subjects on the transcript. To allow the high standards of this prestigeous institution that have been in place for over 100 years to be adversely affected by those who have recently been given the privilege to attend this school would be an insult to all the great graduates that preceded them. You have the new or revised dress code published, now enforce it! I'm a proud graduate of another local HBCU, Morris Brown College.
10. 

    Lisa Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    Great comments. As a private institution, Morehouse has every right to impose/implement/enforce a dress code. I think society has become consumed with inclusion, to the point where we've let it get in the way of preparing our children for the future. Its sad when I see our youth with their underwear out and speaking foul language. I'm only 31 years old and I feel so removed from this generation that's coming behind me. BOTTOM LINE: Does wearing hoodies and baggy jeans mean you're guaranteed to be unsuccessful, ABSOLUTELY NOT! But boundaries are something that seem to be lacking in this upcoming generation. And from what I remember, rules never hurt anyone.
11. 

    Anna Friday - 23 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    Being they are going to school to get a education to work in the real world, there is nothing wrong with pulling up your britches. Hats have always been a no no in a public building even though this is a college the same rules apply. The public schools in my state have a dress code for elementary, middle and high school. It allows for less distracting class rooms and if eveyone is wearing the same attire you can't tell who is rich and who is poor. Some states have "gay" high schools. Yes there are plenty of these kids in attendence. I think it's a shame that Morehouse had to reinforce/implement this dress code to grown %$* men. Would they go to church dressed like this? I don't think there is anything wrong with what Morehouse did. Everyone may not be comfortable with the clothes they will now have to wear, but I am sure that those who were already doing the right thing feel more comfortable. I believe with freedom of expression but some places are off limits. I would not wear a tube top dress to church and these young men should have already been taught that this was not approiate. To me this is not discrimmination it is just basic common sense. I have gay and lesbian assoiates and one man even came to my office on Halloween dressed as a woman. It was Halloween and it was all in fun. He did not make a pretty woman but he knows I laughed with him not at him. LOL. I say save the cross dressing on your personal time. If one works in a hair salon or is in the fashion industry we hetrosexuals expect cross dressing there. I also know that not all gay men want to be a woman or wear womens clothing/pumps.
12. 

    dorisdld2 Sunday - 25 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    Finally a instution of higher learning has the guts to stand up and enforce it's policy. It's sad that this discussion even needs to be held. Morehouse has always been the Ivy leauge school for young Black men of pride and distinction. Very influencial black scholars are Morehouse alumi. The youth this day are very lax in their appearances from time to time. Any of the young men who have a problem with the dress code should excuse themselves from the school. When Dr.Martin Luther King attended, it was expected that he and classmates wear white dress shrits, ties and jackets in preporation for their role in society and business as men. Now about the issue of gay men wearing womens clothing, it totally should not be allowed unless these men have changed their gender through surgery, and if that be the fact they should not be at Morehouse, as it is a school for young men. I know several men who are gay, but they don't get it twisted by wearing women's clothing in public, when men do this it's visually misleading and unfair, as it is a tool for for deciet.
13. 

    busybodyk Sunday - 25 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
14. 

    Bryan Sunday - 25 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
15. 

    Regina Monday - 26 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
16. 

    Quanda Monday - 26 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
17. 

    Bryan Monday - 26 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
18. 

    cheddachasa Monday - 26 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
19. 

    Dee Tuesday - 27 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
20. 

    Regina Wednesday - 28 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.
21. 

    Bryan Wednesday - 28 / 10 / 2009 Reply

    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.