The students of Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College here are up in arms against the college administration for banning jeans and Ts on the campus.
Instead, girls are expected to wear churidar sets and boys formal shirts and trousers.
Supported by activists of National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students' wing of Congress party, the students held a demonstration and shouted slogans against the college management on Thursday.
Expensive
Claiming they have already invested in their wardrobe, which includes jeans and Ts, they argued the management's tough stance would prove expensive for them. “From where will we arrange money for new clothes that adhere to the dress code? If we have to replace a pair of jeans — which can be worn for two or three days before a wash — we need at least three more sets of clothes. It will be [an expensive proposition for] us,” said K.V. Santosh, a protester.
NSUI leader K.N. Prabhakaran, who led the demonstration, pointed out that a majority of the students were not well off. “Buying fresh clothes will be a huge financial burden on them,” he said. “If the college bans students in casual wear from classes, they will lose their attendance.”
Though the college principal was not present on the premises, in-charge Principal I. Navamani said the students were blowing a minor issue out of proportion. “We don't want them wearing dresses that distract others,” she said.
