By Abdulrasaq Olayinka
On the 5th of August 2019, early hours before sunrise, I recall a story of a friend whom I crossed paths with on the Facebook page of the News Digest Press, UDUS.
The page was enough to satisfy our conscience regarding the University culture and moral and ethical values. No wonder they said the university awards her certificate based on character and learning.
I was sitting on a sofa when I heard my phone ringing. Before I knew it, it was Deborah’s calling.
Deborah: Hey
Me: What’s up?
Deborah: Congratulations, I have been admitted to study Medicine and Surgery.
Me: I tried to get hold of you last night, it was so difficult to get through.
Deborah: You mean?
Me: I tried to call you, but I was just getting a bad signal, anyway congratulations to us! I also made it to study Biochemistry.
Deborah: Jesus Christ! Thank you, the ever living, thank you, Baba!!!
I eventually built up the grace to sit with Deborah in the confirmation hall. It was immensely merriment, hunky-dory, and levity. Although it took us days before we got hold of our confirmation letter, sadly Deborah couldn’t hers to study Medicine and surgery but education chemistry, what a pity!
How did that Happen?
It was a fateful and humiliating day for Deborah even for me as a buddy, the hall atmosphere changed, and the whole thing convulsed into the netherworld as I moved towards her to sympathize with the unfolded embarrassment she received which was caused by her bad light dress. All our grind to reinstate the admission was with no joy. Simply put, my friend Deborah ended up studying Education Chemistry on the soil of Usmanu danfodiyo University, Sokoto. This is fiction anyways.
But I cannot imagine how indecent dressing has now pervaded every nook and cranny of the campus. Recapping the odd time I had with Deborah in the confirmation hall was a pen push to reinforce the decentralization of indecent dressings which has become the straw that broke a camel’s back.
From all indications, everything is pointing to the obvious fact that Danfodiyo varsity is losing control of indecent dressing style on campus.
The 2020/2021 Revised Students’ Handbook under Paragraph 5.5.2 specified on what should be regarded as nudity and or, indecent dressing on Usmanu Danfodiyo University Campus.
The chapter reads: “They (students) should always appear neat and tidy.
“Wearing of any unbuttoned, half-buttoned or shirts that expose the chest is prohibited.
“Wearing tight-fitting and transparent dresses, sleeveless and short blouses, heavy makeup and excessive use of jewelry is prohibited.
“Female students are not allowed to wear shorts/miniskirts outside their halls of residence.
“It is forbidden to attend classes and other academic functions wearing worn out or sliced trousers/skirts; or wearing T-shirts with provocative, insulting or rude messages; or wearing shorts.
“Male students are not allowed to wear earrings and necklaces or perm/weave their hair.
“Wearing of dark glasses during lectures (except on medical grounds) is prohibited.
“Contravention of any of the above attracts punishment as the University deems appropriate.”
The university authorities should be concerned about indecent dressing on campus because it can create a negative image for the institution, potentially deterring potential students or impacting its reputation.
Additionally, some people argue that indecent dressing can cause distractions in the lecture hall, making it more difficult for students to focus on their studies.
Negligence of this could result in the school for instance, creeping students into a world of disobedience and creating a negative image of the school. Obviously, the Night class could be a good witness to buttress my point and when students get back to the hostel after the evening classes. As I said earlier, this was a pen push to draw the attention of the school authorities to the rampant indecent dressing on campus.