Praxis more than papers

Dated September 11, 2022 when Mindanao State University - General Santos campus welcomed its old and freshmen students, after two consecutive academic years of remote learning hiatus, with a resounding and controversial dress code policy. However, with the desertlike environment of the institution, innumerable quantities of the student body had largely expressed their sentiments regarding the matter, and flak reached the higher offices. Apathetic if one is to be highly radical, decisive if otherwise, but the issue still lies and remains unresolved and the voices of the students remain unheard.

The MSU-GSC Office of the Student Affairs and Services had released, via online post, an announcement reminding the student body of the Dress Code Policy, justifying that such a move was stipulated in the 2015 University Undergraduate Student Handbook. Stipulated therein as well, students found guilty violating the policy will be sanctioned with a community service inside the university for the first and second offenses and a disciplinary action by the Office of the Guidance Counselor for the third one. However, debates sparked as the studentry and the administration hold incongruent opinions on the matter.

For one, dress codes are antipoor policies in the context of a state university with insufficient ventilation. There are still a lot of students who cannot afford to purchase themselves shoes, but secondly, it is a huge burden for the students to look for clothes comfortable to wear inside the extremely hot campus, let alone one that conforms to the standards of the policy. But secondly, dress codes imposed are highly suggestive of gender-based discrimination. In the “Not Allowed” section posted by OSA, dresses prohibited seemed like for women to break. While the studentry fully understands the sentiments the admin holds, still, the way one presents oneself should be dealt with by the students and not for the institution to impose on. Leverage and freedom should be guaranteed to the students, especially that the matter is highly personal.

In circumstances where one envisions to be a globally-competitive university, it should be of paramount relevance that one mandates policies that truly resolve the issues at hand, so as to avoid the error of the third type. Dressing up is personal and it should not be any of the institution’s business, as if imposing it leads to critical minds. While values play a pivotal role, especially in forging the identity of an institution, it should be noted that conservative values should never be authoritatively imposed on the whole of the institution, especially as we put a high premium on democratic principles.

Seven months have passed, and it is already 2023 yet the issue remains unresolved. As a university that preaches for peace and unity in diversity, it should be of the institution’s topmost priority to advance forward freedom, equality and comfort to its constituencies. It may not be useful every time, but this time it is true: it is actions that speak louder than words and praxis should be preached more than papers.