The University’s dress code was questioned by a non-Thomasian after she was prohibited from entering campus buildings for wearing shorts.
Chastine Molina, a creative writing student of the University of the Philippines – Diliman, said “UST refused” to let her enter the premises and instructed her to go home as she was wearing shorts.
“The guard wanted me to go home and come back even when I told him I had come all the way from Bulacan and had traveled for 3 [hours],” Molina said in a Twitter post last July 19.
Molina told the Varsitarian the netizens’ reaction and “cyber-bullying” took a heavy toll on her emotional and mental well-being.
“[T]o be completely honest, the issues [have] been mentally and emotionally tolling on me these past few days. The amount of cyber-bullying that I got led me to just uninstall my social media platforms for the time being,” Molina said in an online interview.
“I really just want to let this all rest… People in social media should really start re-evaluating how they treat other people online,” she added.
Molina said she was enrolling in place of someone else.
She also said she was aware of UST’s dress code but thought it was lifted because of the enrollment and UST security’s non-apprehension for her same type of clothing a day before the incident.
“I respect the rules of the institution and I merely asked them to reconsider given that I had no other option to change clothes… If I had friends in the premises nearby to lend me some spare clothes I would have gladly obliged,” Molina said in a separate tweet.
A University official said UST’s dress code is meant to teach students to dress appropriately when entering the campus.
According to UST’s Code of Conduct and Discipline, shorts “more than three inches from the kneecap,” is considered inappropriate campus attire.
Also considered inappropriate are: micro-mini skirts, cycling pants, tube, sleeveless shirts, plunging-neckline blouses, see-through blouses, halter tops, backless tops, tank tops, leggings, sandos, sleeveless jerseys, and slippers.
The code applies to “students deemed officially enrolled upon submission of appropriate admission and transfer credentials, and initial payment of school fees, and also to all who have not been issued transfer credentials by UST, nor separated from academic relations with the University.”
‘University policies should be respected’
Central Student Council President Francis Santos said the implementation of the dress code should not be subjective.
“I think we can also look into the manner as to how it is implemented in order to ensure that its implementation wouldn’t be subjective and walang pinapaboran,” Santos said.
Pax Romana President John Derick de Recto said an institution’s policies and regulations should be respected.
“As a private institution, [UST] has that privilege to impose just and decent rules and regulations within its premises,” de Recto said.
Miguel Gemotra, president of the Thomasian Debaters’ Council, echoed de Recto’s sentiments, saying the imposition of a dress code even on non-Thomasians is only “fair.”
“[I]n most establishments — or in this case, an institution, there are rules and guidelines people are subjected to when they enter [them]. These rules and guidelines are assumed to act in the best and shared interest of the institution and its people,” Gemotra said.
‘Violation of democratic rights’
Carol Balita, a senior journalism student, said the imposition of a dress code “violates” a student’s democratic rights.
“Dressing up has different factors — culture, weather, style, comfort, preference, personal identity, [among others],” Balita said.
Balita claimed the dress code policy prohibits a student’s right to free expression.
“I think it’s really unfair for such rules to prohibit you from presenting who you are kasi we have the right to express ourselves pero hinaharang ng mga institutions yun,” she said.
The University’s Security Office has declined to comment on the matter.
