After students of the Madras Christian College took to several social media platforms to protest against the enforcement of a ‘dress code’, students of another city college are doing it the old-fashioned way.
Students of the Thiruthangal Nadar College, Selavayal took to protest in front of the college for the enforcement of a strict dress code, delay in distribution of free laptops and attendance issues among other issues that have long been a bug bear for them.
Formal attire including full hand shirts and brightly polished shoes is the existing dress code for this arts and sciences college in an atmosphere where most dress codes for arts and sciences colleges for men are relatively relaxed. Krishna, one of the students said, “The dress code here is very rigid. We want something does not restrict our freedom of expression.”
Moreover, students of this college come from relatively backward socio-economic conditions and most of them cannot afford to buy or stitch formal attire for college. “Casual wear is much cheaper. And I can make do with slippers instead of shoes, if the dress code were to be relaxed.”
Protests started early in the morning after attempts by students to speak with the college Principal went in vain. The students blocked the gate and refused to attend classes without their demands being heard by the management. The protest finally ended by noon after the faculty spoke with the students and assured them that they would look into this matter.
Issues of late distribution of the government laptops, issues related to the students’ association and several attendance issues were also in the fray, contesting for attention along with the protest against dress codes.