The historic Tuskegee University in Alabama has enacted a new and controversial campus dress code aimed at preparing its students for the professional world.
University President retired Air Force Major General Dr. Mark Brown announced in a message to students that having a suit and appropriate shoes on campus is now mandatory.
Under the new rules, revealing clothing will not be allowed in classrooms, dining halls, and formal settings. Additionally, headwear such as du-rags, bonnets, hats, hoods, bandanas, and sunglasses are banned. Exceptions will be made for religious or medical head coverings.
President Brown said, "The goal here is not to deprive you of the Tuskegee Experience, but to prepare a solid foundation for the workforce you will enter when you leave Tuskegee."
In addition to the dress code, cell phone use in class without the instructor's permission is also banned. Brown stated that faculty members will have the authority to intervene with students who do not comply with the rules.
For students who do not have appropriate attire, the university offers a free clothing closet called the "Golden Tigers Community Closet." Walter P. Cooper Sr., Director of the Center for Career Education and Leadership Development, said, "Dressing appropriately in professional settings is a critical part of self-confidence."
The regulation has drawn criticism, particularly that the ban on du-rags and bonnets is a form of respectability politics targeting Black culture. However, some alumni supported the measure. Tuskegee alumna Gwen McKinney called the policy "a breath of fresh air."
The university expects its highest new student enrollment in 32 years for this academic year.
