The Hindu : Front Page : Colleges too go for dress code

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 29, 2005

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Front Page

Colleges too go for dress code

Vani Doraisamy

A `DRESS'Y AFFAIR: Student attire is a contentious topic this academic year. — Photo: S. R. Raghunathan .

CHENNAI: The Anna University management's penchant for dress codes and "proper student behaviour" seems to have percolated to the city's arts and science colleges.

This academic season, most colleges have frowned upon "improper student attire" and the use of cellphones on campuses.

Insisting that students dress "simply, decently and modestly," many colleges have banned sleeveless, short, tight-fitting, transparent outfits and, in some cases, even jeans and t-shirts.

Dress codes are also being enforced in men's colleges.

"Indecent attire" invites adverse public reactions and incites sexual harassment of students, while the frequent use of mobile phones disrupts academic activity, say college teachers.

If you are studying in Stella Maris, Ethiraj, Guru Shree Shanti Vijay Jain or Presidency college, your cellphone will get confiscated if it is used on the campus. "This academic year, low-waist jeans with short tops created such a problem that we are now insisting students only wear long, loose shirts over jeans. Sleeveless dresses, mini-skirts and shorts have already been banned. We have also imposed an informal ban on modelling, stage or fashion shows," said Geetha Sridharan, vice-principal, Stella Maris College.

Chellammal College does not allow sleeveless churidhars, jeans and t-shirts. Short tops and sleeveless outfits have been banned at Guru Shree Shanti Vijay Jain College.

At Presidency, students have been asked to avoid coloured or checked t-shirts, while those in New College will have to stick to shirts.

The students, however, are none too happy. "A total ban on comfortable clothes such as jeans is unwarranted. Ditto for cell phone. The management could have cracked down only on the wrongdoers. Why should colleges take on the role of moral parenting," asks a student.

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