Students involved in the college of business at Eastern do not have to worry about a mandated dress code.

“It’s not really a problem,” said Cheryl Noll, associate chair of the school of business. “It’s just not something we feel we need to enforce. I just don’t think we can tell someone how to dress in the classroom.”

Noll did consider changing the dress code option once she heard of the recent requirement Illinois State University’s college of business made for its upper level marketing students. But she quickly discarded the idea after the uproar their student body made.

At ISU, the Student Government Association is challenging the school board on its decision, saying it is going against their school’s bill of rights, which protects them from mandated dress codes, and limiting their freedom of expression.

An Aug. 30 article in the Bloomington newspaper, The Pantagraph said, “Under the current policy, students found in violation can be asked to leave the classroom and lose credit for that day’s work. Repeat offenders could effectively fail the class.”

Tim Longfellow, head of ISU’s marketing department, said in the Sept. 10 issue of Newsweek, the department had, in the past, had complaints from employers saying that they had sent interns home because they did not know what business casual was.

“We want to give students a level of comfort; you can’t just turn on a light switch,” Longfellow said.

Noll does not think ISU is going about the dress code issue the right way.

“Students are going to want to dress the way they feel is appropriate,” Noll said. “Plus it is difficult to monitor and enforce (a dress code). You would have to have someone to constantly enforce it, to identify whose skirt is too short. What do you do when someone is dressed inappropriately, send them out of the classroom?”

Noll said at Eastern, teachers try to educate students on the implications of dressing appropriately at business events.

Eastern itself does not have any dress code expectations excluding students and staff who work for the university and students who attend the dining center.

Kelly Miller, assistant director of Housing and Dining Services, said dining center dress code prohibits students from entering if they are not wearing shirts, shoes or slippers, because to enter without would be a safety risk and a health code violation.

While Eastern does not have an official dress code for students, conflict can arise when students wear clothing that displays offensive and hate speech. For example, university members might see shirts displaying these types of speech as disruptive in an academic setting, which is punishable by Article One, Section D of the Eastern Student Conduct Code. Other members, however, may see the hypothetical shirts as a part of protected freedom of speech.

James Tidwell, chair of the journalism department and media law professor, said in a case like this, the freedom of speech issue boils down to whether or not the dress of the student is part of a political or religious point of view.

Miller said that there have been very few cases of students who have had issues with their dress. She said the only case in recent years was a student who wore an “I love boobs” shirt for breast cancer awareness. However, once the student proved that it was part of breast cancer awareness the student was not punished and asked not to wear it again as it could be seen as offensive.

Students at Eastern are varied in their response to a dress code.

Erin Collins, a senior English major with teacher certification, said requiring students to follow a dress code at a public college would impose on students. She said it could require them to buy a new wardrobe, something some may not be able to afford.

“How many people are going to want to be a business major if they cannot afford the clothing?” Collins said. “Its important to teach how to dress, but not enforce. If (students) are uncomfortable, it will impede on their learning.”

Mike Keedi and Grant Waspi are both senior business management majors and are also against any sort of dress code at Eastern, especially within the college of business.

Keedi and Waspi said that prohibiting dress, to them, is a violation of their rights.

“We’re not in the work world yet,” Waspi said. “College is casual; no need for casual Fridays in college.”

Waspi also said now that students are in college, they should be responsible and mature enough to dress appropriately.

However, not all students share the disagreement with a dress code.

Cayla Curtis, a junior industrial technology major, said she thinks having business students conform to a dress code is not a bad idea because it would prepare them for the future.

“I’m a construction major and I wear gym shoes and certain types of clothing to protect me,” Curtis said. “It’s the same with business major, only they are protecting themselves in a different way.”