As
students, staff, and faculty of Linn-Benton Community College, we are indeed
enriched and blessed with a wealth of diversity in culture, attire, values, and
opinions. It is remarkable how so many people with different backgrounds,
cultures and mindsets can come together as a community to learn, work and play
together in a strange kind of harmony.
At LBCC we have nearly every kind of
person that you can imagine, from the seemingly dark, quiet, and reserved, to
the flamboyant, out-going and friendly. The same is said for how we present
ourselves on campus. Students and staff alike have the privilege of expressing
themselves in a plethora of attire, from the very distinguished suites of the
professional executive business person, to those who chooses to cross-dress for
fun and frolic. The choices of how we are seen on campus and the community are
nearly endless. Unfortunately, some choose to take the issue of clothing a
different way, showing appropriate clothing.
How some of the students wear their
clothing on campus became an issue on April 23 of this year. As it is
understood, there was a discrepancy between a staff member and a student with
how the young man wore his pants and LBCC security was called in to try to
defuse a situation. The student was requested to pull up his pants to an
appropriate level and he refused. When campus security arrived the young man
was asked again to pull up his pants and again refused at which time campus
security asked for the young man’s identification, but did not have his ID on
his person. The student was then escorted out of the building and suspended for
two days.
This example of, what I would
consider to be a simple case of incorrect wearing of attire, may not have had
the effect on campus if it weren’t for the fact that the young man is black. Javier
Cervantes, of the Diversity Achievement Center, put an unfortunate racial spin
on the situation by saying, “If we’re going to name what happened last week,
it’s racial profiling,” With all due
respect to Mr. Cervantes I would, of course, strongly disagree with his
appraisal of the situation. As we all
can attest to the idea, not just black young men wear their pants to show their
boxer undergarments. In an effort to “be cool”, many young people choose to
ware their pants this way. From what I can see of the situation, the idea that
this is caused by racial profiling is outrageous and preposterous. Anyone can
wear their pants like that, no matter what color of the skin.
Taking race out of the situation, (as
it should have been), does the young man have the right to wear baggy pants as
to expose his undergarment? LBCC has no dress code; however, it does have code
on the learning environment. According to the LBCC Code of Conduct we must “respect
the teaching/learning environment by interacting with civility within the
classroom and following safety guidelines”. If a student wears something that
others consider distracting or offensive, doesn’t that effect the environment
and civility of a class or area?
The student failed to follow
direction, according to the code when we learn that the young man did not “follow
the lawful direction of faculty and staff including providing information and
identification when requested.” When this situation occurs, “the lawful
directions of college personnel acting in performance of their duties, e.g.,
disrupting class sufficiently to hinder effective instruction, or failure to
leave a building or specified work area when directed to do so by college
personnel.”, according to the Student Conduct Code. LBCC does not have a dress code; however, I
would think that the college would rely on the better judgment of their
students to dress appropriately in the presents of those who may be offended by
questionable attire.
I am a firm believer in the freedom
of expression, however, in a college as diverse as ours, we as a community,
need to be increasingly vigilant on how we present ourselves to others with
different values and be responsible for the consequences for inappropriate
dressing or attire. I’m not saying we need a dress code and require all
students, staff and faculty of wear business suits daily, but what I am saying
is the next time a student should think before wearing a shirt with a swastika,
the letters KKK, or any other images or inappropriate parts of the body show
before arriving of campus.
Yes, a student, or anyone else has
the right to wear what he or she wants and how they wish to wear it, but should
it come at the expense of all those whom it offends? I am very serious about my
college career and normally dress to fit the part, however, even though I don’t
approve of all the fashions that are represented at LB, I hope that all on
campus can agree on the right to an appropriate appearance.
Dkhummel.com,
dkhummel.blogspot.com
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