How should you dress for class?

By Matthew Santangelo
September 25, 2019

In high school, the way that students dress is often the subject for debate, controversy and many demerits. In college, however, the student dress code is a topic not often discussed. It is important to establish what students already wear to class before the discussion can be made about what should be worn to class.

“Normally I will dress moderately casual to relaxed,” Leon Crawford, a chemistry major, said. “What I generally see in class is some people will dress up a little bit, they will put on pants or kakis… or jeans and a t-shirt. Nothing like, oh you’re getting super fancy but you’re also not looking like you just rolled out of bed.”

A classroom in Founder’s Hall.
Photo by Matthew Santangelo

So the typical student dresses casually in school, but the real question is: should there be a limit to how casual a student can dress? What is deemed as inappropriate?

“You should still be conservative in a sense… because you are at school,” Juliette Zervanos, an undeclared sophomore, said. Zervanos gave examples of inappropriate dress as, “short shorts and belly shirts.” She also said that she ultimately believed that students should be able to wear what they want to class.

Eric Zohn, a senior computer science major, felt that students should be able to dress in whatever manner they want because it is college. He said there should be no form of dress code at all.

So it would seem that students enjoy having the right to dress as they please, though some find more outfits inappropriate than others. On the other side of the same coin, it is really the professors who control the classroom in regard to student conduct and behavior. So, what do the instructors think?

A hallway in Founder’s Hall.
Photo by Matthew Santangelo

“My students… are really overwhelmed and busy in internships every other day… and have to get dressed up… so we really embrace being casual and comfortable here,” Professor Johanna Crocetto, who teaches social work, said.

“I’m on the fence about [dress codes], I really prioritize students’ comfort and choice around that,” Crocetto said. “So, for my opinion, it should be more of a collaboration where each individual department or instructor collaborates with students in each class about expectations.”

With no dress code in place, it is really up to the individual to decide what to wear to class.

 

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Matthew Santangelo

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