We write today in support of Soren Hansen’s Jan. 22 column, “Step it up, please.” We, too, bemoan and lament the disintegrating expectations toward dress in our university’s classrooms. Denim? Are you serious? The attire of construction workers and hooligans has no place in an intellectual setting like DeBartolo Hall.
Hansen writes that “students at Notre Dame are not trying to insult their professors or disrespect their peers with their outfit choices.” We disagree; in fact, we believe that Hansen does not go far enough in her assertions.
While it is certainly possible that students who forgo formal attire may not have the financial means to dress up on a daily basis, we believe it is a purposeful sign of disrespect toward their peers and cannot help but discount their opinions. When one of us hears a student in flannel pajama pants discuss the intricacies of Hobbes, we can only assume that they are talking about Calvin’s furry friend from comic lore. (It should be noted that we believe classes taught by graduate students do not require formal attire, as they do not have the requisite number of Ph.Ds to command respect.)
As a famous visionary once said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day attend a university where they will not be judged by the content of their character, but by the quality of their clothing.” To our peers who spend their time and money on respectable attire, we tip our bowler hats to you.
Wilson Barrett senior
Kieran Kelly senior
Becket Salerno senior
Jan. 22
