Dress Code for students at Paul Quinn College

[Tom Earp]

WOW!

Above the call of duty for people who pay to go to school there!

[Senusret I]

If certain professors want a dress code, I can support that.

A school wide dress code is paternalistic (is that a word) and crazy.

I'm SO glad I went to school where I did.

[Blacksocialite]

It was a long standing tradition of historically Black colleges and universities to implement a dress code for their students.

These colleges were built on the philosophy of 'workforce prepareness' in addition to the attainment of higher education. So, many of these institutions 'trained' students for work and life after college.

Paul Quinn is a HBCU and is going back to their standard traditions.

[Senusret I]

I understand that. I still think it's stupid and paternalistic. Let the professors teach that particular lesson if it's relevant to the coursework. Otherwise, stop trying to replace good parenting and home training with a policy that patronizes the students.

I know people who went to class in pajamas and now make six figures.

[KDAngel]

It's a private school, it's fair game.

I personally think it's stupid, but oh well.

[Still BLUTANG]

On many HBCU campuses, students have adopted certain "dress days." For example, i think Wednesday was business dress where most every "involved" student wore suits or at least slacks & tie or skirts w/ pumps at NCCU. Thursdays the students wore their organizational Ps and performed some type of service (caf clean ups, etc). This was NPHC orgs, Honoraries, Professionals, Choir, Fashion Society, etc.

I have yet to read your blog but maybe the university codified what was being practiced anyway? I have no real opinion here (yet).

[AKA_Monet]

1) At Morehouse, the gentlemen must attend daily convocation, so everyday at 12 PM, the students are required to be there with suits and ties even though it is 1 million degrees.

2) At Spelman, women are asked to wear a white dress and black shoes with hosiery when they graduate. They have to attend convocation for the first 2 years for a certain amount of time. I have heard it has changed.

When I lived in Dallas, I can see why Paul Quinn instituted the dress code. To be honest, the college looks like a high school. It bears much, that the students behave that way too. When the president is asked to fundraise, you do not want your funders to feel threatened by the very students that you are trying to education. And it is uncouth to tell people what to do with their money... Moreover, I heard Paul Quinn is under the chopping block by the State of Texas. Why can't people just attend UT Arlington, or Texas Christian in Fort Worth, or SMU? There were 2-3 universities nearby. And, they are fully accredited. Whereas, when I lived in Dallas, Paul Quinn had questionable accreditation...

So dressing up the students, which is standard fare in Texas, will enable funders to donate money, that will improve the "educational standards" and they might keep their accreditation.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I understand that. I still think it's stupid and paternalistic. Let the professors teach that particular lesson if it's relevant to the coursework. Otherwise, stop trying to replace good parenting and home training with a policy that patronizes the students.

I know people who went to class in pajamas and now make six figures.

not to mention that school spirit shirts and greek letters aren't appropriate for the workplace at all, at least in "professional" places

[1908Revelations]

My freshman year I attended an HBCU (Tuskegee) and we were not required any dress code....thank God! For the most part most people didn't do anything less than jeans and t-shirt, but never pajamas!! I guess most people 'dressed up' because thant is what most of the other students did.

If during freshman year I had to were school or greek nalia I would have been messed up, because I didn't have any school nalia and greek naila was not in order since I was not greek.

We had to go to convocation at least teice a month and more if our dorm director (read: dorm mother....that is a whole 'nother thread) or orientation teacher made us go. I am soooo glad I don't have to sit through any more of Dean Spears boring lectures