Morehouse's Purse Problem, lol!

My husband must have been in my car playing with my radio cause I got in the car yesterday and Tom Joyner's idiotic tail and his monkey crew was on. I went to cut that mess off and jam to some real music when I heard him say that Morehouse has imposed a strict dress code that included no dresses and purses, no sagging pants/ shorts, and no pajamas. I still cut on some real music - so fortunately I missed Tom and his sad tries at comedy. Read the policy below:

Morehouse College Appropriate Attire Policy
October 2009
Published in The Maroon Tiger

It is our expectation that students who select Morehouse do so because of the College's outstanding legacy of producing leaders. On the campus and at College-sponsored events and activities, students at Morehouse College will be expected to dress neatly and appropriately at all times.

Students who choose not to abide by this policy will be denied admission into class and various functions and services of the College if their manner of attire is inappropriate. Examples of inappropriate attire and/or appearance include but are not limited to:

1. No caps, do-rags and/or hoods in classrooms, the cafeteria, or other indoor venues. This policy item does not apply to headgear considered as a part of religious or cultural dress.
2. Sun glasses or "shades" are not to be work in class or at formal programs, unless medical documentation is provided to support use.
3. Decorative orthodontic appliances (e.g. "grillz") be they permanent or removable, shall not be worn on the campus or at College-sponsored events.
4. Jeans at major programs such as, Opening Convocation, Commencement, Founder's Day or other programs dictating professional, business casual attire, semi-formal or formal attire.
5. Clothing with derogatory, offense and/or lewd messages either in words or pictures.
6. Top and bottom coverings should be work at all times. No bare feet in public venues.
7. No sagging--the wearing of one's pants or shorts low enough to reveal undergarments or secondary layers of clothing.
8. Pajamas, shall not be worn while in public or in common areas of the College.
9. No wearing of clothing associated with women's garb (dresses, tops, tunics, purses, pumps, etc.) on the Morehouse campus or at College-sponsored events.
10. Additional dress regulations may be imposed upon students participating in certain extracurricular activities that are sponsored or organized by the College (e.g. athletic teams, the band, Glee Club, etc).
11. The college reserves the right to modify this policy as deemed appropriate.

*All administrative, faculty, students and support staff members are asked to assist in enforcing this policy and may report disregard or violations to the Office of Student Conduct. "

Antywayz, it appears that the college is trying to recapture some elegant, professional, astute image they once had - which I can appreciate, but the tone and wording of this new policy is discriminatory to not only Lesbian Gay Transgendered and Bi-sexual, but also to those who have chosen an urban or hip-hop style of dress. I won't begin to mention that these are adults.

I'll take the opposition.

Blacks are decorative people and have, since the very beginning, chosen to adorn themselves in very distinct ways. These ways are taboo in the office, case closed. All that culture irritates co-workers and makes some people (ahem) uncomfortable. Nuf said.

It's fine to want your students to be neat when they come to class, but I say Morehouse is putting lipstick on a pig. Your students come to class in pajamas, wear dresses, and grills........well it looks like the mind-set is what the college should attack. Yeah no jeans, that's been said, but I think that's dumb. Men hardly wear suits anymore. That is such a yester year principle. Suits mean nothing and everyone knows it. Button downs and khakis are 2009. I would suspect the foundation for propagating great thinkers would be self expression,  not the conservative.

But to address the 'gay' issue - the backbone of the entire policy - I'll say this is gay bashing at it's core.

"We are talking about five students who are living a gay lifestyle that is leading them to dress a way we do not expect in Morehouse men.”
-- Dr. William Bynum, Vice President for Student Services

I guess they can't just humiliate or beat-down gays anymore, so they just publically discriminate against them. This VP of Student Services has the audacity to state this dress code issue is a problem with 5 men. HA! I doubt seriously they thought this one through. Truth is gay men have struggled with acceptance on Morehouse's campus since been pimpin' been pimpin'. No really this is an old issue - very old. It's just sad that this college has not yet dealt with a growing and aggravated problem. This college obviously does not have the cultural competence or sensitivity to deal with an issue of this nature - straight boys, lol!

It's not my place to say the LGBT community is wrong or right - they simply are themselves. And this issue, rather battle, we have going on with allowing them rights to be themselves has been fought too long. Those supporting the denial of equal rights to LGBT's should have realized long ago that allowing basic rights is not saying you agree with the whole gay issue - it's just acknowledging a sector of people. Very similar to the Black Civil Rights Movement - except LGBT's have hidden far far longer.

All LGBT's are not HIV spreading, immoral, sexual drug using deviants with criminal tendencies. They have some fools and straight people have fools too. I just think college or your post high school years - is where you find yourself. I say allow that. Don't expect a child to emerge from high school prepared to think, act, and dress like a man. Doesn't happen like that.

Morehouse's gay azzes putting a band-aid on a gaping gunshot wound.