DALLAS — When Dr. Michael J. Sorrell instituted a business-casual dress policy for his students at Paul Quinn College many years ago, some were a bit hesitant to embrace the idea.
But roam the sprawling private historically Black college today, and you’ll encounter droves of young men and women who don dress suits and blazers as they head to and from class. The dress code has now become a part of Paul Quinn’s culture and uniquely distinguishes them from so many other students attending colleges and universities across the nation.
“It’s nice to see students dressed up and looking professional because you never know who you are going to meet on campus” said Kevin Lee, 21, a sophomore, whose dorm room closet is filled with a handful of dark blue and black suits, nicely pressed dress shirts and more than a dozen colorful ties. “It’s important to look the part and be presentable when you’re at college. It just creates a different perception for people.”
For Sorrell, who has made national headlines and won praise for turning around the once-troubled Dallas HBCU, the dress code is part of a long-term plan of preparing students to enter the professional workplace—as a college intern or as a graduate—acutely aware of how to dress.
Throughout the academic school year, the dress code at the African Methodist Episcopal affiliated college is strongly enforced from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Anyone caught out of dress code can be issued a fine of $200, and there are signs throughout campus that list the fashion no-no’s.
They include: no sagging pants, hats inside the building, tennis shoes, doo rags or shirts with profanity. Sheer garments without proper undergarments, halter tops or dresses, or head scarfs won’t be tolerated either. Men are expected to wear collared or polo shirts, khaki pants or slacks and a tie is optional. Women should dress in slacks or khaki pants, blouses, collared shirts or skirts and dresses (“no shorter than your finger tips”). Jeans and shorts are only permitted in the evenings and on the weekends.
To alleviate criticisms that a dress code would require students—many of whom hail from low-income families—to buy new clothes, Sorrell developed the school’s Clothes Closet and filled it with everything from suits, shirts, dresses, ties and shoes.
