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Dress code elicits mixed reaction at ISU
By Scott Miller
scottmiller@pantagraph.com
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BLOOMINGTON -- Nick Bright believes student rights are being compromised at Illinois State University, while Nate Heinold just thinks the university is preparing them for professional life after college.

The ISU marketing department enforced a new dress code Monday, requiring students to wear business-casual attire to class. Coats and ties are not required, but flip-flops and jeans are out. The move has gained the department national media attention.

“I disagree with it. This being a public institution and all, I don’t think they should mandate how we dress. I’m not paying them to tell me how to dress,” said Bright, a junior accounting major, wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap.

“It’s probably good practice for students, but I don’t think it should be mandated,” added Bright. He’s not affected by the requirements because he’s not taking any marketing classes, but added he dresses in business attire when appropriate, at job fairs, for example.

Heinold, meanwhile, wears business attire to class anyway. The senior financial and business administration major said it’s simply professional conduct.

“Teachers respect it more, especially in (upper) level classes,” Heinold said, wearing pleated pants and a polo shirt.

The dress code stemmed from a larger college-wide effort to promote ethical conduct in light of corporate scandals like the Enron and WorldCom debacles. The ISU College of Business adopted a code of professional behavior and ethical conduct in the spring 2006 semester, including dress standards for not only students, but faculty and staff as well.

“As a faculty, we really look for ways to better enhance our students and better prepare them for the workforce,” said Tim Longfellow, chair of the marketing department. “We just can’t flip on a switch here and go from the college environment to the business environment.”

Right now, the new policy only applies to students attending marketing classes, and it’s open to the subjectivity of professors who must enforce it. They must determine what’s inappropriate, for example, or what’s too wrinkly.

Marketing professor Linda Showers doesn’t expect any problems, noting that all of her students came prepared Monday.

Cost could be an issue too, particularly for poorer students, but Longfellow said he hasn’t heard any complaints.

“You can go out and find pretty good business-casual attire for a decent price,” he said.

In the short term, violators will be asked to leave the classroom, losing credit for any of that day’s work.

Because of the subjectivity, students do have an appeals process, but if they become repeat offenders, “it probably would make it difficult for them to pass the class,” Longfellow said.

Failing multiple classes could ultimately get students tossed from the College of Business, but Longfellow said the department is still considering the potential punishment for repeat offenders, including removing students from their majors.

The policy isn’t entirely new. Certain marketing courses have required business-casual dress since 2003.

“Personally, I like it for the marketing department. It’s setting a good standard,” said junior Mike Tokarski. “It’s good for the business department. It’s giving us a good name.”

The decision has certainly got the country talking. BusinessWeek, the Chicago Sun Times and Inside Higher Ed, an online magazine, have contacted ISU to cover the new policy, Longfellow said.

Take a look
Illinois State University senior Tyler Schaefer, of Rochelle, left, and Brandon Nicol, of Pontiac sit outside a ISU College of Business building classroom on Monday morning. Schaefer is dressed in business casual clothing, a requirment for marketing department classrooms. (Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)
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Reader comments on this story - 162 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

to police officer wrote on Sep 10, 2007 9:03 PM:

" If you cannot concentrate concentrate because of attire, then you should not have your job. Blatant stereotyping. Good for ISU? Ugly for NPD! "

LETS GET PREPARED wrote on Sep 10, 2007 6:28 PM:

" YESSS LETS GET PREPARED!!!!! Why stop at the college level. Lets make Jr. Hs. students dress in business attire to "prepare them for the real world". Lets make 3rd graders dress in business attire to "prepare them for the real world". Yes in today's world image does play a role in the real world, but guess what they are not in the real world yet. If your 22 years old and can't figure out when to "dress for the real world" then you probably shouldn't be in college (def not a college graduate). If anything it makes hiring a lot easier when the idiot walks into an interview in jeans, he's probably not the sharpest knife in the drawer so it makes the decision pretty quick. "

Mike wrote on Sep 10, 2007 4:53 PM:

" To Life (clever nickname BTW!): I assume you do not attend Illinois State. With that being said, I guess I'll be the one to enlighten you. First of all, I'm a Junior in Finance major at ISU. Without getting into specifics, when I applied to ISU in 2004 there was no dress code, and up until the end of the Spring 2007 semester there was no dress code. Simply telling me to 'Take my money elsewhere' halfway through my collegiate career is a pretty arrogant and witless comment to make in my opinion. Dressing up for class isn't something that would make me transfer out of ISU for, but it is something that I and a majority of COB students can still fight for. Hopefully you Life can understand that. "

To Mike wrote on Sep 10, 2007 3:56 PM:

" Try and understand this... You made a choice to go to ISU, therefore, if you are not happy with a dress code being enforce, you should have made a better decision for yourself. If NOT dressing up and trying to look professional is that importation to you, maybe you should have made the CHOICE not to go to ISU. You have no one else but yourself really. Sorry kiddo, life is not fair, and if you don't like it.. Take your money and go somewhere else. Yours Truly ~ Life "

Mike wrote on Sep 10, 2007 1:32 PM:

" Plain and simple, the dress code isn't going to work at Illinois State. It's a public university for one, and secondly unless ISU or you the taxpayer are ready and willing to pay me to dress up to class I'm not going to go along with it. Also, would you adults please stop with the 'dressing up prepares you for the real world' speech. I'm fairly confidant that I and a vast majority of COB students know what it takes to impress employers and our/their future clients. We don't need a 2-4 year lesson plan on how to dress in 'The Real World'. Dressing up in an environment where how I look/dress will not help me one bit does not make sense to me. Sorry! "

Business Prep? wrote on Sep 10, 2007 1:17 PM:

" I agree (for once) with the Pantagraph Board on this one. We're not talking about the Art, Political Science or English majors here. These are students who are in Business Prep. And guess what? Image does count out in the world of business! You can whine and complain that it's infringing on students' rights (I know I would have as a college student!), but the reality is that it's a competitive business environment and students need to be prepared. "

To: To doh(pes) wrote on Sep 10, 2007 10:13 AM:

" And if had any eduction, you would realize that the way a student dresses, has NOTHING to do with how they learn. Maybe we should make all fast food people wear 3 piece suits, and we'd get so much better service.....true if we follow the assumption that increased dress equates to increased performance. Get a reality check on the real world people....this isn't 1950, even though many of you are acting like it is. "

To doh(pes) wrote on Sep 10, 2007 8:37 AM:

" I'm sure neither of you have anything to do with marketing. If you did you would already KNOW that marketing has "everything" to do with appearance. "

to: doh wrote on Sep 10, 2007 7:49 AM:

" hey, you've noticed these things too, huh? i was beginning to think it was just me. the guy mowing our lawns and serving our food likely does more actual WORK than a good portion of those that pride themselves on their job title and conveniently forget to take off their lanyard-badges wherever they go. yeah, those that know, know. "

To: Enough wrote on Sep 10, 2007 7:12 AM:

" You must be a republican. Who else would so blindly follow the controlling actions of those in charge. And as a counter-point to your little tirade, I suppose then you are suggesting that they also fall in line with the many other practices which seem endorsed by the republican party, corporate scandals, lying congressmen, and a joke-in-chief that will do anything to sc4ew those below him to get ahead? Yeah, we've seen how well this country has suffered under the same guidance you propose....which make me think we are way overdue for a change. "

doh wrote on Sep 9, 2007 6:34 PM:

" As a State Farm person I applaud the decision to have a dress code. It's about time that these kids learned that your value as an employee has nothing to do with what you know or what you can do. Appearances are all that matters. As long as you look good in person and on paper you'll go much farther than those silly losers who spend all their time working. "

Mitch Leary wrote on Sep 9, 2007 9:55 AM:

" Their reasoning is a joke. Ken Lay and most corrupt white collar criminals wear/wore ties. To think dress eliminates moral bankruptcy is a joke. In fact it may make people feel superior in their form of dress. Too bad google has such a casual dress code, that company is not successful at all. Geez, get a grip. "

Tom wrote on Sep 7, 2007 1:02 PM:

" This is SO BLOOMINGTON. Make them all look the same. Line up like good little drones. YUCK! what about kicking out students with tatoos. That is not an appropriate buisness look. Silly ISU! "

Tom wrote on Sep 7, 2007 12:07 PM:

" This is SO BLOOMINGTON. Make them all look the same. Line up like good little drones. YUCK! what about kicking out students with tatoos. That is not an appropriate buisness look. Silly ISU! "

To Troll wrote on Sep 6, 2007 9:43 AM:

" Wow! I hope you don't hold any control over anything that affects other people's lives. It's funny how you keep telling people to get back to the subject, yet all you do is issue insults and criticize and say nothing about the subject yourself. That is really productive. I don't know why I am bothering, you can't even form a proper sentence. But your judgement is superior, right? How about you swallow some of your own medicine! "

to: To* anonymous the troll wrote on Sep 6, 2007 8:07 AM:

" sorry, "child", but my advice, for what it's worth, is to not trust your paranoid hallucinations as absolute truth. i am, by the way, the one who posted "to: older returning student", i am the one who so immaturely referred to - i might assume but could be wrong - you as what you appear as, to me. i most definitely did not, however, post "to: nice". so whatever deep insight you think you've cleverly uncovered is frankly nothing but a dream on your behalf. in short, you're hallucinating, delusional, your view is not to be trusted and is far from credible. really, don't sweat it, it's just pantagraph.com. but, if you can't take the heat here, i doubt you do too well in life at large. gotta keep the real world at bay, right? anyway, none of this is about the subject at hand, the one we originally posted about, the reason for these threads. so, back to the relevant posts. "

to: To* anonymous the troll wrote on Sep 6, 2007 7:52 AM:

" funny how you take such a high and mighty position, while not actually adding a single bit to this "debate". you have posted nothing whatsoever regarding the subject at hand. so, essentially, your post is utterly pointless and irrelevant. also, nearly hilarious that you make such a point to attack "name callers", and then end the entire thing by mocking and telling the posters to "get a life", which is, of course, no different than calling names. im sure you have a life, but what's the point of it? "

Enough wrote on Sep 6, 2007 5:49 AM:

" Well, I have come to the conclusion, enough already. Suck it up...face the facts you are getting older, even against your will. You need to face the facts that you are not always going to be the one in control, and you need to accept what you can and can not change. You will need to face the fact that you are going to have to conform as you get older and try to fit in with the rest of society. Get over it.....just dress and go on. "

To* anonymous the troll wrote on Sep 5, 2007 7:34 PM:

" Hello there, I see your pattern being repeated on many comment sections. Responding to: nice and to: older returning student on this one. Oooh, calling people perverts and children! Name-calling is especially mature, isn't it? I am very impressed that you can use big words like "subjective"(do you even know what that means?) Is there even a point to ridiculing all of these peoples opinions? Your emotion seems to effect your sentence structure as well. I tell you what, why dont you write a letter to the Pantagraph, and you can explain your infinite wisdom in more detail. We would all benefit from someone that is so endowed with virtue, that they are apparently in a position to judge everyone else. That or you could just get a life! "

To: nice wrote on Sep 5, 2007 11:38 AM:

" Maybe you should pay more attention to your job and less time looking out the window, gaucking at all those scantily clad coeds running around on the quad.....PERV "

To: good to hear wrote on Sep 5, 2007 11:36 AM:

" I can't have a good rational thought at all on the weekends or when I get home after I slip out of my work clothes. And all that nonsense about thinking in the shower...well we all know whatt hat is about. As a matter of fact, when I'm on call for a fortune 100 company here in illinois, I can't even answer the phone until I change into business casual attire....too bad they don't let the phone ring 30 times while I slip into something less comfortable. "

Mike wrote on Sep 5, 2007 11:02 AM:

" Mr. Longfellow said: “We just can’t flip on a switch here and go from the college environment to the business environment.” Why not? I went to Illinois, wore jeans to class for four years, put on a suit and tie and got a job. Who really cares what students wear? I find it funny that it's only the marketing department, which is the one business major that's basically B.S. Apparently the accounting and finance people are more worried about learning than what they look like. "

nice wrote on Sep 5, 2007 10:54 AM:

" It is nice to look out my office window to the quad and see a few young women dressed like young ladies instead of street walkers. "

Poleeze.... wrote on Sep 5, 2007 10:40 AM:

" A dress code is a good step in the right direction, but remembering how I personally had to scrimp and scrape to pay my tuition, books, etc. in a private college that extra cost would have been quite a set back. Campus officials need to keep in ind that not all kids come from a family that can afford to pay college costs. Good preparation though. Now, if we could only get employers to see that employees set the right example in the real world we would be on our way! Personally, I'm tired of coming to work and looking at my co-workers wearing things that are inapropriate for the work environment! Most of the kids I see walking to IWU or ISU look better. "

I wore business casual wrote on Sep 5, 2007 2:55 AM:

" I wore business casual when I attended a Big Ten University back in the mid 60's. We all did in all classes. What's the big deal. Good preparation for the business world and I survived very well. "

good to hear wrote on Sep 4, 2007 6:53 AM:

" I get tired of seeing all of the muffin tops around campus. I just cringe when I see people in their pjs and house slippers going to class. Why even bother getting up at all? "

sideline view wrote on Sep 3, 2007 10:48 PM:

" If you don't like it ...transfer. When you get a real job you'll have the same choice, good call ISU. "

dress right or go home wrote on Sep 3, 2007 4:17 AM:

" they should do it in all schools why not,,, why hang your pants down to thr knees dress like you dont have class . give them a ticket for not dress right way. some of this school's need to be more strick on the kids . some of this kids look like they got ofo bed ,,, and some of this girls that go to high school need to leave the P.Js at home and house slippers .look trashy. "

To: A Kind Word wrote on Sep 1, 2007 7:42 AM:

" Then you have no issue with the school mandating business casual attire, right? The students aren't being required to wear suits and ties; we're only being required to wear what anybody would wear in a business casual office. I've worked at companies where business casual is the norm. You don't dress up at all; you just don't wear jeans, t-shirts and tennis shoes. Seriously. A huge deal is being made of nothing. "

A Kind Word wrote on Sep 1, 2007 12:01 AM:

" As Pink Floyd Stated clearly: We don't need no education, we don't need no thought control....what's the big deal? I remember in the 1980's, corporations decided we needed to wear suits and ties. Now a Days, it's Business Casual, but there are folks that want us to return to the days of wearing vests and sport coats...BLAH! Doesn't the School get it? People who wear a casual attire are more apt to perform better? DUH! "

We need wrote on Aug 31, 2007 6:12 PM:

" a dress code that mandates bikinis. The women at ISU are some of the hottest in the nation and it would help recruitment of top quality students "

to: older-returning student wrote on Aug 31, 2007 5:03 PM:

" you have done nothing but post a bunch of your own subjective opinions. do you not have the capacity to at least entertain the possibility you are no different, in others' eyes? what makes you think the rest of the world considers you any more attractive or relevant? clearly, a large portion of young people do what you insult, so its you against maybe hundreds of thousands, if not millions, even around the world. but your little, narrow, and emotionally charged opinion wins? maybe in your own mind, if that's where you reside. but don't mistake your personal hallucinations and fantasies as some sort of ultimate authority. question is, ultimately, why would anyone care about one thing you posted? second, what does any of it have to do with the actual issue at hand? because the dress code has nothing to do with the attractiveness of today's current styles. its simply about casual attire, whatever version it may be, as opposed to business attire, whatever version it may be. you can catch up, if you want. it's up to you, child. "

ISU Grad wrote on Aug 30, 2007 8:07 PM:

" Oh good grief - it's business casual, people, not a freaking fashion show! (Uhm yeah, I'll be wearing my corporate khakis to Fashion Week next month). If you can't afford or don't want to pay for retail then take a trip to Plato's Closet or some other consignment shop where you can buy appropriate name brand casual business clothing for less than it would cost you to buy something new and generic at Target. Did any of you who are crying "I can't afford it" even think about how much a brand new corporate casual wardrobe will cost you when you need it in the business world? That whole excuse about going to class in your pajamas, especially when you're an upper classman, is ridiculous. You think you're working hard to meet deadlines now? Just wait'll you graduate. "

To:to older returning student wrote on Aug 30, 2007 10:39 AM:

" Sounds like you are far busier ridiculing commentors than doing anything productive. Get a life, and leave people and their honest opinions alone. "

to: Older returning-Student wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:15 PM:

" Sounds like you're far busier checking out the students than you are studying. Get back to the books and leave these kids alone. "

Mary wrote on Aug 29, 2007 3:12 PM:

" We live in America...and the only person telling me what to wear is the big guy that signs my paycheck. These students are paying to go to school there. They are not being paid to go. They should be able to wear anything they want, as long as they're booties aren't hanging out for all to see. "

Lizzy wrote on Aug 29, 2007 12:14 PM:

" Too bad it gets so cold here in the winter or I'd suggest eliminating clothing altogether and suggest ISU become the first nudist colony college. "

Spring Break wrote on Aug 29, 2007 11:30 AM:

" It is year 'round now. Didn't you hear? "

Older returning-Student wrote on Aug 29, 2007 10:08 AM:

" No, I'm sorry but ISU Garb's descriptions are accurate. "Trashy" is the word that comes to mind when I see my fellow students in class. I know a lot of these young girls think they are being "hot" and "sexy" but contrary to what they think, I do not want to see their butt cracks. Many of them appear very comical, they go way out of their way to over-tan and over-bleach their hair. Yet they show up in PJs, and sweats and greasy hair. The shorts conceal about as much as underwear, and with their giant (ultra-glamorous, in-fashion) sunglasses, they look like alien hybrids(ridiculous). And the funny thing is, with all of that said, they act very pretensious. The guys are no better, everyone is either dressed like an athlete or some thuggish bad-boy. I know this an age were everyone wants to make a statement, but ridiculous is ridiculous. If you doubt the validity of this dress-code, maybe you should dry by the campus and see for yourself, or maybe you like it! "

Times are changing wrote on Aug 29, 2007 9:47 AM:

" I like the idea of stricter rules for dress, but some leniency might be better accepted from the students' perspective. I have seen some very questionable attire as I have driven past students in the campus area. While I do not necessairly feel that business attire is the best choice, I do believe the students should be decent to the fullest extent. Some of the shorts and tanks and flip flops, are inappropriate for many reasons, including safety first and foremost. Rules assist us to manage better, and maybe if we stopped trying to be so resistant to change, our society would be more productive. "

to isu garb wrote on Aug 29, 2007 9:05 AM:

" its probably because alot of students stay up late working on projects, papers, studying ( not all students party) and tend to over sleep and have to hurry up and throw on whatever to make it to class. and some students learn better from being dressed more comfortable because its more comfortable to tolerate longer courses that are 2+hours. and since you are descriminating "thugish white boys" you forgot to mention other ethnicities as well who dress just the same. and on the campus i went to college never saw half of what you described for attire. most was bball shorts and hoodies or sweat pants unless there was a presentations to be given, then you would see students in proper business attire of shirt and tie for men and slacks and coat for women. "

2 cents wrote on Aug 29, 2007 8:49 AM:

" To the post regarding wearing pajams to class - if you're so lazy you can't put on jeans and a t-shirt then you got bigger problems than worrying about business casual. Some of the crap I see going in and out of State Farm is ridiculous - my parents were farmers and they went out to work in the fields looking better than half of these so-called "professionals". What about some self respect? What about giving a flip about how you look when you walk out of the house? You don't have to spend tons of money to look decent. We are evolving into a nation of slobs - if we're not there already! "

ThosSpence wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:37 PM:

" The Department of Marketing is a laughable farce. This distraction is just an obvious way of compensating for the meager intellectual and academic fare that it has to offer. "

ISU Garb wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:01 PM:

" I work on campus and I've seen just about everything except total nudity. While most of the students dress in jeans and t-shirts, some of the more laughable moments are the earnest PJ wearers with muffy slippers on their way to class, the butt tattoos, dirty bra straps under spaghetti straps, thug wear on white boys, basketball shorts pulled so low that the young man walks funny, underwear hanging out, and flip flops in winter. None of this can be thought of as style but it does show a very strong desire to conform to everyone else. If some of the students realized how silly they looked, I think they would change. "

Vance wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:24 PM:

" I think the marketing department has gone overboard with the dress code. Four days out of the month would accomplish what they want; dressing professionally. "

12-Foot Midget wrote on Aug 28, 2007 3:06 PM:

" Based on the posts from some of the purported ISU students and graduates here, I would point out that perhaps spending more time working on spelling and grammar, and less worrying about dress codes, is in order. "

Why would parents be buying someone clothes in college? wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:31 PM:

" Do parents still pay for college these days? Who's parents paid for college? It's the student's career education, why would a parent pay for it? That's messed up. "

Maybe... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:30 PM:

" what they are trying to teach them is that they can’t always get their way. In the real world there are rules and you will be told what to do by somebody, no matter what. Even if you own your own business there will always be someone out there that you will have to answer to or a rule you will not like. Yes in the grand scheme of things this is absurd b/c corp casual is out. Like someone else mentioned progressive companies realized that it is not necessary. Those who need to dress for work now realize that corp casual is way to sloppy and actually dress nicely now so they are noticed and stand out amongst the sea of wrinkled khakis. The point ISU may be trying to get across is that you can stomp and scream and shake your fist but there are always going to be absurd rules in the work place...It wasn’t but is should be. "

Sink or swim wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:29 PM:

" This is just a quick way to separate the potential success stories from the riff-raff. Any student who dresses appropriately will get more attention and possible some leeway from professors while "rebels" will get nothing. If your interface (presentation) is messed up, you can assume the person is messed up. There's no sense in wasting time at the college level on 10%s. There isn't any "no child left behind" program in college. "

It will help poor.. wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:16 PM:

" students from competing with wealthy fancy dressers. And poor parents from spending too much on their kids fancy clothes. Colleges and teachers should be respected to gain knowledge instead of turning them into fashion show places. Once there is no respect for your teacher you will never learn anything from him. "

I change my major... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:12 PM:

" I used to be a marketing major now since Dress code has come up I have decided to change my major. "

First things first wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:30 PM:

" ISU could better spend its energy improving its status of a mediocre (at best) diploma factory instead of trying to laughably connect class attire with ethics. Involving the student body and even publicly debating or voting on the topic could have been a much more profound method of teaching the COB students about ethics. "

ISU GRAD wrote on Aug 28, 2007 12:41 PM:

" I can understand the dress code however the cost of college is to high to have yet another cost added to it. To force a student to dress a certain way is just not right. It appears that the university is prepared to lose a number of students out of the marketing dept. maybe this is the goal of the university. In many was there are discriminating agains the students who either dont want to dress up or those you simply can't afford to. "

Lizzy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:54 AM:

" What is this world coming to?? To have a mandated dress code in college is beyond ridiculous. College is a time to express one's self and find one's self. There is time enough when out of college to dress in business attire. Let them wear flip-flops I say! Let them wear jeans!! Bad ISU. Bad. "

hey wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:36 AM:

" quit whining ya slackers "

to good for them wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:34 AM:

" and yet you were allowed to dress that way in the 70's. "

Good for Them.. wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:30 AM:

" Sounds like a good idea- as long as the Profs aren't allowed to dress like slobs, either. Hard to take a kid seriously when they're dressed all goofy in baggy drawers and sideways hats. They look as stupid as we did back in the '70's. "

RE:I'd rather see wrote on Aug 28, 2007 11:25 AM:

" Ditto "

NIU Student wrote on Aug 28, 2007 10:12 AM:

" They've been doing that at NIU Business school for a long time now. It's kinda nice (and strange) seeing kids dressed up in suits and ties walking around campus! "

I'd rather see wrote on Aug 28, 2007 10:09 AM:

" a campuswide ban on overly revealing clothing...and I don't buy the idea that business casual is more expensive than casual..Khakis seem to be cheaper or about the same as jeans and a polo shirt can be had for $10..the same as a T Shirt. "

They look trashy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 10:05 AM:

" Ok! We are trying to improve them! "

To U of I grad wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:38 AM:

" Well, I feel sorry for your instuctures! "

Good move... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:36 AM:

" I think it will atleast help me concentrate during the class. When a professor is in the middle of a class and you try to look at him, eyes just fly over to other things in the background. So I am for this move. They are not saying that you cannot wear what you want outside the college. Recently in Europe, environmentalists (around 3000 of them) had naked protest in front of snow mountains. "

To JOE wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:35 AM:

" Actually, I would be all for that. Have you seen the ISU quad day pics. I'd say we should start having mandatory gym class in college! "

Kudos to ISU! wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:32 AM:

" It's amazing to me how upset people are over this. I think it's fantastic and I'm glad ISU is enforcing this. I had a class in college where my instructor would not allow hats, it was a sign of respect and nobody complained. This new rule is a sign of respect and teaches our younger generation what the real world is about. A comment in the article made by Nick Bright: "I’m not paying them to tell me how to dress" is classic. Well, Nick, you then do not have a clue what college is about then. (By the way, is it you paying or your parents?) College is there to prepare folks for the next level of thier lives. Whether is be manners, facts and figures, how to dress appropriately, you name it, you are there to learn. You should welcome this lesson with open arms and learn it now. If you have this reaction when you start a job, the lesson will be much more costly by way of termination. "

I blame the students wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:30 AM:

" This is an attempt at improvement. If you are being prepped to be a professional it only makes sense that you should also look the part. This has nothing to do with the ethics of congressman! As far as the students personal conduct, many of the commentors are hitting the nail on the head! "

Fighttheman wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:21 AM:

" Dress is connected to first amendment becase dress codes are not about attire they are and method of control. An attempt to enforce one groups veiw of decency and morality upon another. Fight the Neo-Nazi Facists and drop all your marketing classes.... Get a real major like Chemistry or Engineering Or better yet go to a GOOD school like U of I. "

this is college wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:15 AM:

" wow we have a lot of holy people here. This is college. lighten up Francis. This is the time where people need to explore and identify themselves. I think about how I dressed in college and I turned out just fine "

It is funny wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:14 AM:

" How these kids think they look "hot" or 'glamorous' when they really are just showing their lack of taste! "

To: guess what. wrote on Aug 28, 2007 9:00 AM:

" I am thinking that you weren't really paying attention in class. I know this because you started a sentence using a lower-case letter. "

U of I grad wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:39 AM:

" I graduated from the U of I with a business degree and worked 25 to 30 hours per week during school. I'm sorry if I didn't feel like dressing up for my class in the morning. I was there to learn not impress my fellow students or my instuctures with what I was wearing. The University of Illinois prepared me intellectually for the business world, they did not focus on how we looked aesthetically in class. In some instances we were required to dress up, such as for presentations, But for the most part, we could wear what we wanted. U of I didn't become one of the top schools in the country by mandating a dress code. Go ILLINI! "

A Good Education... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:14 AM:

" would include preparing you for your personal presentation in your future career. Courses should "tailor" (pun intended) their curriculum to reflect what is necessary for success and should train (includes the step of PRACTICE) their students appropriately. This should occur most particularly during the "transition" courses at the 300- to 400-level. (That is, transition to real life.) While I completely sympathize with getting all you can get out of being able to dress as you please and be comfortable, etc. etc., one does eventually have to transition into their profession at some point. Also, it it very appropriate here to point out again that it is a CHOICE to be educated at that institution, in that major. I suggest that this requirement it essentially very good, but just needs some tweaking. "

SF sucks wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:13 AM:

" Business casual dress is outdated and ridiculous even in the work place. Look at successful companies like Microsoft and Google. They don't require it. What does that tell you? I think dressing up is just a way to cover up for incompetence. A happy worker is a hard worker. A dressed up worker is just uncomfortable. They are preoccupied with going home and changing into something comfortable. "

Joe wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:13 AM:

" What is next...telling people to lose weight since a more athletic looking person is typically more successful and professional looking. Lose 25lbs or I will flunk you out of school. "

Billy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:06 AM:

" Yeah, big deal. Where I went to college, I had to wear business casual all day with a tie in the mornings. "

Bluegrass American wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:00 AM:

" The heck with the clothing requirements...........work on their posture, it's deplorable, unhealthy and causes structure problems in the later years. (but let's worry about what the Jone's think) Make sure they know what to wear. So, is it clothing or health......Neither... it's all about the money. Make that company money, that's what the class is about. "We don't care about you, just what you look like. Make us look good and make us money" "

Want a better job? wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:52 AM:

" There could be another spin to this that the students might find to their advantage if they could manage to put on something more presentable than pajama's and bedhead. ISU is trying to raise their standards and raise the standards of its business students, which means in the end, hopefully being a school that potential employers take more seriously in an ever increasing competitive environment. Honestly, take some pride in your appearance. "

no connection wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:49 AM:

" I do not see a connection between respect and dress. As a ISU grad (not in business) I respected each one of my professors by just SHOWING UP to their classes and giving them the attention they deserve. Most peers would skip and/or talk during class! No matter what I was wearing, I graduated near the top of my department. Does that mean people do not RESPECT me because I don't wear a dress to work every day, or that I respect them less because of my casual attire-necessary to complete my job tasks? Come on ISU, teach respect and appropriate dress code when necessary. You can't help those people who do not know when to dress for a job interview! Those are the helpless ones who never showed for class! "

Adam wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:44 AM:

" A dress code...at college? That might make the least sense of anything I've ever read. Go and expand your mind! Open cultural doors! But do it in an attractive light blue collar cotton shirt and some kahkis with a matching belt and shoe combo. "

respect? wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:32 AM:

" As a former teacher at both high school and college levels, I have not seen any correlation between dress and being a good student. Dressing well does not equal respect for the teacher. Listening, thinking, and applying yourself shows respect for both the teacher and yourself, no matter what you wear. If everyone would stop being influenced by appearances so much, the world would be a better place. "

I'm thankful... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:30 AM:

" they didn't have this "requirement" when I went to ISU. I could barely afford to pay for the tuition, fees, and school supplies with the money I got from working evenings and weekends. On the other hand, this will help many students understand the typical marketing and HR bull that they'll have to deal with in the corporate business world. Hopefully they'll learn to see through this "fluff" and judge people by their character, and not how much they spend on fashion... "

not impressed wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:29 AM:

" Improve ethics by wearing "business casual"? As others have pointed out, if there is any relationship between ethics and clothing, it might be that more well-dressed people are MORE likely to be unethical. The same kind of people who think style is more important that substance also think that what you don't know won't hurt you ... so they lie to get ahead. People with no more clue than this have no business teaching our youth. Remove them. Likewise, anyone in the business world who is similarly focused on style over substance is part of the problem, not part of the solution. "

Non-traditional 30-something student wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:29 AM:

" It's for the students benefit. If you saw how some of these students dress, you would see why. The problem is mostly with the young girls trying to Paris Hilton and lindsey lohan it up. They want everyone to see the tattoos they have right above their butt, so we are treated daily to a hefty dose of crack and thong. They seem to wear all of those things their parents would never let them go out of the house in. The shorts are borderline-underwear and the tops are cut so low you sometimes see some brown-nip. Women of all shapes and sizes do it(even the way heavy ones.) They also make it a routine to wear pajamas (and they always pull them down) just to be a little extra trashy! These are the reasons why the dress-code is being implemented. And if they wanted to be treated like adults they should act like adults. They are being prepared to enter the professional world, this is just another way for them to be formed into more well-rounded citizens. "

First wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:10 AM:

" They take the dining centers out so they have to walk blocks to get a meal.What's next,the hair cut and skirt length / "

Just look wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:08 AM:

" At how our congressmen in their fine suites dress to see how one acts ethicly "

reader wrote on Aug 28, 2007 7:04 AM:

" Sure didn't do any good for management at ISU to dress nicely. "

Dumb idea wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:47 AM:

" I strongly believe that the way you dress does not have any correlation on how you act. I graduated from COB a few years ago and now am working at a Corporate environment. I wasn't required to dress business casual in school and I am doing just fine now. I think that you should be able to dress how you want to. When you are in class you want to be comfortable and having to dress up is a distraction and is very uncomfortable. I know I hated dressing up for a presentation because I felt uncomfortable the whole day. You are the one paying for the tuition and ultimately it should be you that decides on what you are going to wear. "

Crybaby wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:43 AM:

" The way some folks insist on dressing, one can't help thinking that dressing like a slob is some sort of a badge of honor. On the other hand, I have to agree with the 'clothes don't necessarily make the woman/man' crowd. There are a lot of 'suits' out there. And a great many of them are empty. Or, at best, sending erroneous information about the wearer. For starters, just ask the Minneapolis-St. Paul police department. "

Hippie wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:41 AM:

" Look at this generation, all they have to protest is the dress code...how about some serious issues like war, environment, injustice, and political wrongdoings...oops....sorry that was the sixties and early seventies...oh well when we fought against dress codes in the sixties we used the motto "Jesus had long hair and wore sandals" with the reply from the establishment "He can walk on water, can you?" Even though the so called love generation was not perfect, we were not as self absorbed as these young adults....they are rude and selfish...just go to any bar or restraunt and see how they act "

Management wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:33 AM:

" Having supervised several thousand workers at a time, I do feel that there is a relationship between dress and performance. Do I think that non-customer-facing employees need to always dress up in a coat and tie or dress? No. But, I have seen employees slowly erode even casual dress standards to the point that clothing is mussed, provocative, and unprofessional. I believe that such a casual attitude towards dress carries over into performance, and that it also hurts an employee's credibility. Maybe I should always look beyond clothing, but poor dress would give me a bad first impression of an employee and could impact a presentation they might be giving. I think that ISU is doing their upper-level class students a favor by giving them a dose of the real world of business. "

Once Again wrote on Aug 28, 2007 6:25 AM:

" Another little slice of your freedom gone. Keep a watchful eye because these little slices are adding up. "

At least.... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:47 AM:

" you aren't in Iraq carrying a 80 lb pack getting shot at. Quit your complaining about something so trivial. "

pool boy wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:17 AM:

" Give 'em a break. They got a whole life of the mickey mouse ahead of them ... let 'em live now. It's all lipstick on a pig. "

GC wrote on Aug 28, 2007 5:10 AM:

" Oh the poor students having to dress nice. I live around the campus and most look like they just rolled out of bed or there wearing last weeks clothes that need a wash. I bet the cost of the clothes for the classes will be a lot cheaper then the in clothes they wear now. If they shop right they can get 4 shirts and 3 pairs of pants for the cost of three pairs of jeans. "

OGS This takes the cake... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 2:27 AM:

" ...ISU...what the heck are you thinking? Whoops, you're not thinking. This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard come out of ISU in a long time. Are you trying to "teach" the kids that clothes make the person. I wouldn't be surprised if the enrollment drops on this issue. "

I don't.. wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:26 AM:

" understand how anyone would call this a financial burden? If you look at the majority of the jeans college students wear they are priced equivalent to the cost for kakis. The same goes for shirts and polo (knit collar not Ralph Loren) shirts. "

Chuckles wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:20 AM:

" It's time to reign in this rediculous idea that the way one dresses is somehow related to the first amendment. Bull. "

Where does ... wrote on Aug 28, 2007 1:18 AM:

" it say in the Bill of Rights someone has the right to dress a certain way? Why is the first drivel out of someones mouth always about the right for this or that? It is the business/organization one CHOOSES to either work for or associate with that will decide the image it wishes to convey. The Happy Cynic must be in a very unique position to work with people wearing $5000 to $10000 outfits. What a nut!! Oh, and yes, someone needs to show some of these people how to dress. Apparently the parents don't know how to do it. Have you seen how some of the current high school and college men and women dress? Personally, I don't like seeing a man wearing his pants so low it doesn't cover his butt. What's the point of even putting the pants on in the first place? Or the women who think it is attractive to wear three inch heels with Daisy Dukes or a skirt that barely covers the no see-ums. The image might work in a ZZ Top video but not on an overweight common folk. "

police officer wrote on Aug 28, 2007 12:24 AM:

" Well the Police Training Instistue ran by The U of I makes you wear business casual to class. Have for the 14 years I have worked in law enforcement. I didn't see the big deal about it. It was more a respect thing for the teachers and not being a distraction to other students. The way some of these women dress now I know I could not concentrate in class if I was sitting next to them. Good for you ISU!!! "

Sarcastro wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:53 PM:

" I guess the marketing department needs to teach students how to dress, since they don't really teach anything else that's remotely useful. "

It'd make more sense wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:35 PM:

" to see employers impose dress codes for their employees. I for one am tired of looking at crack, belly and cleavage of department store employees, business associates, bank employees, my kid's teacher, etc. What people need to do is dress appropriately. Unless you're working at Hooters, save the skin show for the beach or the bar scene. "

Todd the Bod wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:50 PM:

" I think they need to address people going to class in their PJ's or their low rise jeans with their thongs hanging out. "

Tom Terrific wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:09 PM:

" What's the big deal? Used to be kids dressed up to imitate moms and dads. Now adults dress down to imitate the kids. "

ooohhkayyy wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:08 PM:

" I guess I.S.U. will not be getting any money from me. I will go to school somewhere else. "

An observation wrote on Aug 27, 2007 10:05 PM:

" After a successful career of over 30 years in business I am convinced that there there is absolutely no relationship between a person's clothing and performance. Nevertheless an employee would be wise to conform to whatever official or unofficial dress code is in place. ISU's requirement would have been a financial burden to me in college and I am skeptical as to its value. "

reader wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:50 PM:

" Yes,you can see that the way one dresses can affect how ethical you are.Just look how ethical our fine up-standing politicians dress.Boy that sure made a difference.Ha "

I think wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:46 PM:

" A one day boycott of classes would end this insane practice. "

me wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:42 PM:

" Well if they are going to have the students have a dress code ,then ,they need to have the employees have one . "

reader wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:38 PM:

" You have got to be kidding me .There not in high school anymore .I believe a student protest is in order.That ought to bring the national attention needed to get this code changed. "

what is the point? wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:28 PM:

" not sure how clothing will bring about changes in ethics and professionalism. just sounds like more laundry and discomfort. "

To Just Wait wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:12 PM:

" Sue based on what grounds and legal argument. I hear that all of the time in the working world yet not a one of them have sued and won. It a given loser if you do. Sorry no money to be made in suing too. An employer can mandate a dress code and if you don't like it there is the door option. Having dealt with a school board by serving I can tell you the unbrella that public school has over students is quite large so yes they can mandate a dress code. One if the administration feels the attire is disruptive to the education process that is about all it takes to put them in the legal right. I've heard those arguments it my right to free speech because I wear such and such, bull. "

I agree... wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:12 PM:

" If we all went to work/school/fancy restaurants naked, there wouldn't be any argument about dress codes.... just where to put the credit card and car keys. "

Stupid Idea wrote on Aug 27, 2007 8:56 PM:

" I can guarantee you that the ethics of the people that were behind Enron and WorldCom weren't based on their dress code. A Code of Ethics is one thing, but this dress code is dumb. I will not give them another dime in donations unless they repeal this or provide students with polo shirts (to help defer the cost of a required wardrobe). "

common sense wrote on Aug 27, 2007 8:47 PM:

" This is a great idea. In my days as a student, I dressed in business casual. Why?..... it was out of respect to my instructors and my fellow students. There is plenty of time for casual wear around the house or in the library. ISU is right to do this. "

Go Panthers wrote on Aug 27, 2007 8:15 PM:

" Transfer to Eastern! It's a better school anyway.... "

ISU grad 1989 wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:45 PM:

" I graduated in 89, have a graduate degree (not in business) and I have been supervising interns for over 10 years. It is amazingly sad what interns will wear even when they know their grade will be effected. I don't think it is at all bad to have to dress up some. I am a social worker who does not make a lot of money, but when I need "court clothes" or need to look more professional, I shop at Good Will, BroMenn Thrift store and garage sales. You can find plenty of khakis, black pants and professional shirts for next to nothing. There is a time and place for being a slob/being comfortable and work/internship and yes, classes are not one of them. "

CHANGE! wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:39 PM:

" ...it's inevitable. If all generations just acted like the last, how much progress toward trust and faith would we make. I appreciate that I am different from others. A lot of people wear similar fashions, and maybe the same t-shirt. Trust is not earned or given by the clothes you wear. If it is, then some of the planet is falling backwards. "

PE Dept wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:24 PM:

" ISU PE majors had a required uniform in the early 80s. "

Owners.. wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:50 PM:

" I know some people who owns business in B/N town and they don't have to dress up ALL the time!!!! It is a matter of choice... Does that mean janitors have to dress up in business attire??? "

Could it be true?!?! wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:38 PM:

" A Lawyer was lecturing us about ethics?!?! Lawyers will manipulate the law without regard to justice . . . "

Just A Guy wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:36 PM:

" Who cares if the students have to wear business casual attire in classes? How many of you does it really affect? Let the school make the rules as they see fit. It is not the beginning of a facist agenda, or rights being taken away. Police officers in PTI have to wear uniforms, firefighters at fire academy have to wear uniforms, nursing students have to wear uniforms, what's so wrong with business students being required to wear business clothes? "

Good wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:29 PM:

" Glad they are doing it. Since parents don't teach their kids these things anymore, somebody's got to. "

Clothes & Ethics? wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:24 PM:

" What a crock! Are all of you posting about ethics suggesting that ISU has fallen down on the job with ethics training? If so, just say so. Suggesting that business people are more or less ethical than anyone else is ridiculous. "

Jim O wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:01 PM:

" The planet's first capitalist dictatorship. "

GQ wrote on Aug 27, 2007 5:36 PM:

" Great idea... Dress Code. I'm tired of seeng butt cracks and underwear. "

clothes don't breed ethics wrote on Aug 27, 2007 5:33 PM:

" Ken Lay, Jeff Skillings and Bernie Ebbers couldn't have worn nicer business attire. Those furiously expensive suits were bought with the pension money and stock investments of people who are now financially devestated. For ISU to think that what you wear build ethics is obscene and totally ridiculous!! "

Business Guy wrote on Aug 27, 2007 5:04 PM:

" I would have hated it when I was in b-school, but based on what I see with "kids" today when they graduate, they NEED some training on professionalism, including how to dress. Most are professional, but I've had interviewees (ISU Grads) show up unshaven, or wearing old jeans (frayed!), or even wearing flip-flops or sandals! "

ISU alum 86 wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:59 PM:

" I've had a successful career in marketing for 15 years. Figuring out what to wear is not difficult. Marketing majors have the rest of there lives in to live in corporate dress. College is your last dance as a kid; wearing corporate dress in college is the dumbest thing that I've ever heard of. I am embarrassed for my alma mater. "

Don't agree wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:59 PM:

" Wow, I just don't know about this State. Everything is being taken away! As far as school, let them wear what they want! It's great also to have casual business attire at our jobs now, but where I work, after 5 you wear what you want. When you look sloppy, you work sloppy and you act completely different. Lots of talking, laughing, etc. But for school, why change rules now? "

Just wondering wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:56 PM:

" Do they get to have "casual Friday" "

Another COB grad wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:48 PM:

" Things have changed a lot in the many years since I earned my business degree. These changes are not all for the better. The number of classes required has dropped and the classes are less rigorous. I’ve worked with recent graduates who cannot calculate - much less understand the concept of - a net present value, even using Excel. These graduates insist that business reports must be written a certain way, because their professors told them so, even though these professors have never actually worked in “the real world.” Do you really think that making students wear business attire will make them smarter or better employees? It’s not necessarily a bad idea, but I think you are using this as a Band-Aid without cleaning the wound first. "

WTF wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:44 PM:

" You have got to be kidding me! This is a public school, not a private school. What gives the university the right? Oh, that's right... It's all about what you see on the outside, not what you don't see on the inside. We wouldn't want out young adults to grow up thinking any different. "

Not now wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:44 PM:

" I really think this is pushing the limit. They all had dress codes in high school. Let them wear what they want for as long as they can. This is just someone at the school trying to exert some authority. It costs enough to send a child to college without have a dress code thrown at them with no notice. Oh, yeah, its not the school that has to pay for the extra clothes. This is totally unnecessary and uncalled for. "

Reader wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:39 PM:

" I don't really care what they wear to class, but it would be nice if they had a clue about what to wear to work. Most interns I've seen dress more like they're going out to a bar rather than a business meeting. "

College prep wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:25 PM:

" I think this new requirement is an excellent lesson for students who have SELECTED to major in BUSINESS. They call it business attire for a reason, and after all, college is the place to learn to become better candidates for employment. Also, a friendly reminder: college is not required learning. If you don't like the curriculum - don't go, or change schools. "

Advantage wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:23 PM:

" I go to a private business school in Chicago that requires business casual dress. When employers come to tour the school, they are always impressed and often ask to interview students on the spot and some have gotten some top jobs from that. It's a little extra work but it makes a big difference. "

Not a bad idea wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:18 PM:

" I believe it's a good idea to require this. If most of the public saw what a lot of students wear to class, I think you would agree as well. As far as being able to afford this type of attire, check out the price of some of the jeans these "poor" kids are wearing and see how many of the young ladies have manicures and you would understand that maybe they COULD afford this attire. Besides, you can buy a polo shirt and a pair of dress slacks at Walmart for less than a pair of the designer jeans cost. "

To: Happy Cynic wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:15 PM:

" You are so right! I have spent my entire life wearing t-shirts and jeans to work and even after work, after 60 years, I now realize that I am being looked down on by the majority of individuals that reside in my community because of how I dress. It makes no difference that I am hard working, a good person, and community leader. Some would rather see me in a suit. It seems that this is what is happening at ISU. ISU needs to realize that you can still be a good businessman and wear blue jeans and t-shirts. Running a construction company does not mean that I don't get down and dirty with my employees. They respect me for that, and that is what is important to me! "

To Happy Cynic wrote on Aug 27, 2007 4:07 PM:

" Exactly! Like the sleazy trial lawyers in the Brooks Brothers suit, and $1200 haircut. "

J O wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:52 PM:

" But wait. There's no fascim growing out of the Bush mob. It's just liberal nonsense. All of that effort to hang nooses around people's necks, tighten restrictions on youth, intrude on privacy of anybody, and come up with silly guidelines like this to smother what little individuality is left in people is just your imagination. It all smells like neo-capitalism, which is totalitarian capitalism and religious-fanatic meddling. "

to College of business Grad wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:47 PM:

" your words are the truest here yet. If these kids can't figure out how to dress at an interview and when they get on the job then they won't be employed anyway. I graduated from College 18 years ago and wear french cuffs and cuff links everyday to work. But you were lucky I didn't show up for class in the sweats and t shirt I wore home from the bars the night before. Was a pretty good student despite the holes in my socks. "

$$$ wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:42 PM:

" .. as mentioned below, I did not have the money to dress business casual 5 days a week when I was at school. This is a stupid idea. "

dumb wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:40 PM:

" As one person stated, if the kids are college graduates and still don't have the brain capacity to know when to dress appropriately in the real world maybe the college of marking has bigger obstacles on their hands then dress code. As one person wrote " it's an embarassment. Dressing professionaly in class used to be the norm - I think the whole college shoudl go back to the practice" when has this ever been the norm???? when I think of college i most certainly don't think of well dressed kids. Go back and look at pictures from the 60-70's, they most certainly did not dress for success, but then i realized those people in the 60' 70's are now the very people who are enacting these rules of success, though it looks like they turned out ok. P.S. i work for ISU, polo shirts, and shorts everyday for me, so I guess the "future" hasn't caught up with me yet. "

to: SILLY wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:31 PM:

" pj's to class?? Just what I'd want to do... sit next to someone who just rolled out of bed and didn't bother to even change clothes. I bet that smells nice. "

The Happy Cynic wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:30 PM:

" To FYI. I'm glad I'm not the only person whose caught the implicit linking of professional clothes to ethical behavior. Isn't that just like the business world? "We want to public to think we're moral people. Hey! I know! We'll all buy fancy business suits." Amazingly enough, however, it works! The average moron sees someone in a $5000-10,000 getup and therefore, somehow, perceives them as a good person. Funny, considering the biggest snakes I've ever known, and the ones that keep destroying the lives of innocent people, all seem to be wearing those same fancy business suits. You see it everywhere. When people want to be perceived as more "Christian", they wear fancy clothes to a church. When a lawyer wants to be perceived as more persuasive and likable, they wear fancy clothes to the office and courtroom. When a politician wants to look more honest, they wear fancy clothes to speeches and fundraisers. It's almost Calvinistic how we take expensive clothes, and thus an outward expression of status and wealth, as an outward sign of virtue. Of course, Jesus said not to acquires signs of material wealth in this life. Thus, does the cognitive dissonance of our culture continue. "

graduate wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:30 PM:

" I recently graduated from college in May 2007 with a business degree. I wore jeans and t-shirts to class and sometimes I didn’t even bother with that and just wore my pajamas. I now have a career in the business world and didn’t find it the slightest bit difficult to change my attire to appropriate business wear. While, I do believe in some instances business casual is appropriate in class, say if you’re giving a presentation, but otherwise students should be able to wear what they want. I don’t believe in public university where students are paying tens of thousands of dollars to attend has any right to mandate a dress code. These students are smart enough to get a college education, and it is my guess that they will be smart enough to wear a suit to their first interview, without ISU’s enforced dress code. "

Best Dress Code wrote on