No Jeans at Amity University
“Medieval ideas” and the “Talabanisation of Amity” are a few of the epithets being hurled at the actions of the administration of Amity University in Noida. And the cause? A new and stringent enforcement of a dress code that does not allow the students to wear jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, and certain kinds of skirts.
The dress code mandates that, instead, men must wear formal shirts and trousers, with Blazers during the winter, and women must wear saris, salwar kameezes, or restricted types of Western formal attire. Formal shoes are required for both genders. The administration reasons that the code is neccessary to present a professional attitude to corporate recruiters and industry officials who visit the campus. But, some students assert, they already know that it is important to dress formally under certain circumstances. “When placements are around the corner, everybody dresses formally, because we want to give a good impression to potential employers,” said one third year student. “We are sensible enough to know what is good for us.”
This seems to be a sentiment that is echoed universally. And it is not so much the rules themselves but the disciplinarian measures taken against such an innocent crime as a pair of blue jeans that have the students up at arms. If a student breaks the dress code, he or she can be suspended from classes or even expelled. “I heard that a girl was suspended for a week,” one student intimated. Another proclaimed: “In our department we have been told if you do not obey the dress code you will be rusticated. If I had gotten admission into Delhi University, I would never have come here.”
The truly totalitarian part of recent events is the university’s threats to take action against students even discussing the issue with the media, according to NDTV. This is part of the reason why students are shying away from being named in interviews, and some, like the one who simply told NDTV, “I don’t want to get into trouble. I can’t say anything,” have been intimidated into near-silence.
In retaliation, students proposed to boycott classes and staged various demonstrations. The strike was called off, however, after the university management agreed to sit down with students and hear their greivances. But that was, quite clearly, all that they were willing to do. The administration pointed out that the dress code was actually instituted two years ago, but, as Major General K.J. Singh, the Vice-Chancellor, said, “It is being implemented strictly from this academic year.”
The students were forced to admit that they had received a document containing the information when they were admitted to the university. Still, a suggested dress code is a far cry away from being suspended for a few personal choices. Yet another student insisted: “We are 18 and we are not stupid. We ourselves won’t come in provocative clothes. If we can vote we can also decide how to dress.”