By BRIANNA WANTUCK ’29
Updated 11:50 a.m. EDT, 6 Nov 2026
Back in the 1960s, Houghton University (HU) had a strict dress code. My grandma would tell me all about the many rules she had to follow regarding her skirt length and how the men could not wear jeans. Students had to display respectful professionalism and modesty in Christ in preparation for their jobs and lives in and after college.
In today’s culture, it is simply not possible to enforce that strict of a code; however, I do think that HU should consider creating a “Lecture Code” or the expectation that students will look semi-professional and put together in classes.
Here is my proposal: students cannot wear pajamas, sweatpants or other “lazy-day” clothes to class. Instead, HU should promote and encourage blouses or sweaters, skirts and pants that would not be worn in a gym. For men, you can wear anything that is not considered athletic (hiking pants are okay, I guess, but they’re not the most ideal option out there). I will admit that I am no expert in menswear, but I should not be seeing the HU guys primarily wearing gym shorts and hoodies, as it is very unprofessional.
Jeans fit into the casual and minor workspaces, but they can be quite tricky. I think that they are okay to wear in classes, as long as there is still a conscious awareness of the professional environment. I have two categories for my jeans, and each pair will live in one of two spheres: work or school. My work jeans are specifically designated for farm work or working a summer job. My school jeans are nice and crisp because they are never used for labor. If you choose to wear jeans, keep the ones you wear for school separate from the ones you would wear for work.
As a self-proclaimed fashion enthusiast, I put a lot of care and consideration into what I wear. I encourage the student body at large to begin to do the same. Athletes with games or practices can have a bit more leeway with this, but I do not think you should be wearing sweats or gym clothes every single day to class. HU is an academically rigorous school that holds itself to high standards, and the student body should reflect that when entering the classroom. Wearing sweats, tracksuits, and other unprofessional clothing takes away from the environment that we want to foster.
In my personal experience, if I am dressing with intention daily in my style with planned outfits, I tend to have more motivation and academic endurance throughout my day. I focus better in class and have energy to do my assignments afterwards.
In my life, sweats are designated for sick days and warmth on walks to the gym or at night with friends. Having this distinction produces an atmosphere around the clothes and influences how I go about my day. Sweats in class and while doing my assignments just make me want to take a nap. I know other people here who have this same situation, and the positivity that it brings is beneficial for them academically and in other areas of life.
My take is radical, but I am not saying that they need to bring back the dress code of the 1960s when my grandma was here. I would love to have a code that forbids sweats outright, but in a college setting there is no great way to enforce it, and we are all adults who make our own choices in life. What HU should do is encourage people to look decent in classes, as it looks good for prospective students, shows respect for the professors and for Christ. Not everybody is going to be able to go as crazy as I do, but it would be nicer to see more people on campus not looking like they just rolled out of bed at 2:00 in the afternoon. ★
