Dress Code To Be Implemented in LS

Smockets to be moved, says Cuyegkeng

By Anna Bueno

“You cannot get to me through a tantrum; you can only get to me through reason.”

These were the firm words of Ma. Assunta Cuyegkeng, Ph.D., Vice-President of the Loyola Schools, when the crowd booed her on the Loyola Schools (LS) Consultation on the Implementation of the Dress Code last September 19, 2007, at the Colayco Pavilion. Cuyegkeng, as with other members of the LS administration, were present at the consultation organized by the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-Aaral ng Paaralang Loyola ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila (Sanggu).

The Sanggu organized this consultation to address the circulating rumors about the implementation of a dress code in the LS. The consultation also addressed rumors on the banning of smoking pocket gardens (smockets) on campus.

Negative image

Cuyegkeng said that the administration has been receiving negative comments on Ateneans, especially on the way they dress on interviews, meetings, and other transactions outside the school. Most of the comments come from potential employers, alumni, and other external publics. “They keep complaining behind our backs,” Cuyegkeng said.

The lack of explicit guidelines on the dress code as written on the Magna Carta pushed the administration to formulate guidelines on the dress code. Cuyegkeng said, “People don’t see the lines anymore on what is appropriate wear and what is not.”

The Colayco Pavilion was overflowing with people who wanted to hear confirmations on the rumors. When Cuyegkeng announced that slippers, of any kind, would not be allowed, she was met with rude comments and loud boos from the audience.

There were more of these scenarios at the open forum after Cuyegkeng’s initial announcement on the dress code. As of press time, only general guidelines have been released (see sidebar). “We are still in the process of formulating specific guidelines and sanctions,” Cuyegkeng said.

As such, the next semester would be an “adjustment semester,” said Cuyegkeng. The LS will impose the general guidelines but will not admonish the students for violations yet.

On smockets

The smockets, on the other hand, will only be moved from their original locations in the campus. This is in contrast to the rumors that the smockets will be totally banned. The moving of the smockets is due to Sections 5 and 6 of Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.

Section 5 of the Act says that smoking shall be banned from all public areas, including schools. Section 6, however, allows the designation of smoking and non-smoking areas on areas not covered by the ones indicated on Section 5.

The smockets, then, will be moved to non-LS property near the school, such as the Institute of Social Order (ISO), or any other piece of land not owned by the Ateneo.