AT the beginning of the new academic session, stray visitors to women's colleges and universities might rub their eyes in disbelief and wonder if they've strayed into a fashion arena, instead of an institution for learning. Most students are dressed according to the latest trends, with each girl vying with the other in a spirit of cut-throat competition that is reminiscent of the Miss World beauty contest. Around twenty-five years ago, students in universities in the Kingdom used to wear uniforms to comply with the dress code rules issued by the university administrations, where they studied. Ro'aa Al-Hafez, a teaching assistant in an intermediate college, said that she used to wear more modest clothes as a university student. “The security employees at our college were very strict and used to observe our clothes carefully. No girl could pass the gate unless she had been checked for proper clothes,” remembers Al-Hafez. “The campus dress code at that time was so strict, that if some indiscretions were overlooked by security employees, the lecturers and the academic staff would penalize the girls caught violating the rules,” said Al-Hafez. Many staff members in colleges describe the clothes and trends that students today choose to follow as “outrageous” and not reflective of an Islamic identity. “Students exaggerate in following fashion trends and don't stop to think if the clothes and cosmetics they are wearing suit them or not. They try out all kinds of new ensembles and it seems that they come to the university to show others their look, at the expense of their studies,” said Al-Hafez. Another teacher assistant from King Abdul Aziz University, Nadia Ibrahim Fallatah, said that just six years ago, students were not so fashion mad. “Generally, about sixty to seventy percent of students in the past used to wear decent clothes, but today many students are seen wearing ridiculously tight and transparent clothes,” said Fallatah “As a result of blindly aping Western celebrities and following the tabloid culture, students turn up for class in inappropriate clothes, even if they are secretly convinced that their clothes are not fit to be worn on the campus,” she said. University administration rules do specify a dress code and even mention penalties for violations, but no one seems to care or apply the laws. “The penalty differs from individual to individual. During lectures, if a teacher sees any girls wearing improper clothes , they usually punish her by asking her not to attend the lecture, or if she permits her to attend, the teacher won't give her attendance marks,” said Fallatah. Ro'aa Al-Hafez thinks that students dare to wear indecent clothes since they think they are safe from being punished by the administration in the university. Students also have their opinions and some of them realize that a lot of girls are going overboard spending money and time over fashion trends. Afnan Mohammad Eid Al-Fedail, a student at Health Science College said that she usually purchases clothes from designer stores such as Zara, Jennyfer and Versace. “I think there are a lot more fashion options now, but unfortunately most people follow trends blindly and end up choosing clothes that aren't so decent,” said Al-Fedail. Al-Fedail said that college rules instruct students not to wear flashy colors, short skirts, revealing dresses and pants. However, most students ignore the rules since the administration doesn't punish them, and they wear what they like. Elham Ibrahim, a student from Science College, King Abdul Aziz University said that the rules in university are not applied because security employees and administrators tolerate students' indiscretions. “I think fifty percent of students spend the periodical payment given by the university on their looks,” said Elham. Afnan Hamdan, a student at Health Science College thinks, “It is sensible if a girl just uses the lipstick and the eyeliner, but to apply full make up is not suitable for a university set-up.” She feels that the administration should penalize students who wear revealing clothes because those fashions do not correspond with our Islamic identity and may be stimulate sexual feelings in others.
