These Boots Are Made For Walking

I got an e-mail from a fellow colleague today..and it sparked off a whole series of heated responses in our staff mailing system. The issue: student dress codes. It seems that some of my colleagues can't really concentrate while teaching, since certain students purportedly dress too..provocatively. If the sender of the said e-mail was a fellow male, I'd understand...somewhat. However, since the e-mail was sent by a female lecturer, I did a double take and read through it and every other response..thoroughly. Here's an excerpt, for those of you who are interested:

"Pelajar semakin berani untuk memakai baju yang singkat dan ketat dan begitu juga dengan seluar yang ketat tanpa segan silu. Tidak kurang juga yang suka mewarnakan rambut sesuka hati..."
"...Tidak kurang juga yang bertindik di mana-mana tempat dia suka.."

For the benefit of non-Malay speakers:
"Students now have no qualms about wearing tight tops and pants..There are also those who colour their hair as they like.."
"There are also many who pierce any body part they like.."

Anyone interested in obtaining the full text of the original e-mail, please let me know. It may be good for some laughs.

I gathered that among the "offenses" committed by our students (supposedly) are wearing tight clothing, piercing themselves, colouring their hair, and wait for it: crossdressing. To a certain extent, I understand that every university likes to have its students dress in a smart, professional manner (take UUM, for instance). There's also the issue of decency and safety. Hence the dress codes. However, I also find it irritating that some educators cannot seem to get over the fact that these students are already adults, and should be treated as such. Some may argue that of course I'd defend girls who choose to dress sexy simply because being male I'd love that. Honestly, who wouldn't? However, as adults, the decision of what to (or not to) wear to class is in pretty much their own hands. Educators may advise, but ultimately it's up to the individual to decide, IMHO anyway.

But then again, what does colouring your hair have to do with it, or even bodily piercings? Granted, piercing is something Islam is very sensitive about, but should we discriminate students just because we perceive them to be "wild"? I honestly do not see any correlation between having orange hair/pierced tongue with not getting good grades. If a student does well, he/she should be rewarded accordingly, not judged by what he/she dresses like. Another e-mail brought up the issue of crossdressers in class. A lot of lecturers are uneasy having these people in their group. Maybe it's a Malaysian thing..how crossdressing is a new and often misunderstood part of our evolving culture. Or is it that these lecturers feel threatened, somehow? What's amazing is that most of these people have been abroad studying, and therefore should have become used to sights such as these. Apparently not.

I honestly have no idea. Maybe it's because I'm still young, and have been exposed to a lot of things these people would feel...are either blasphemous or even dirty. In any case, I hope this issue gets resolved, quickly. Having dress codes and a sense of university pride/identity is one thing. Enforcing a system based on personal prejudices..is another.

Am I wrong in this? Urgh. Anyway, am joining a Yahoo! chat session with TV and some others. Have a good day, people!