Tuskegee University enforces business‑suit dress code, bans bonnets and du‑rags

President Dr. Mark Brown of Tuskegee University announced a revised student dress code effective for the fall semester. The policy requires students to wear a business suit and dress shoes for professional events and to dress in business‑appropriate attire in classrooms and cafeterias. It bans revealing clothing, bedroom shoes, and non‑religious head coverings such as bonnets, du‑rags, caps, hoods, sunglasses, and bandanas, except when needed for religious, medical, cultural, or university‑approved reasons. The university also prohibited cellphone use in classrooms and reiterated mandatory attendance.

The university says the changes are intended to prepare students for the workplace, stating “The goal here is not meant to restrict you … but to prepare you with a solid foundation for the workforce.” Critics have accused the policy of targeting Black students and sparked online debate over respectability politics. No specific penalties for violations were detailed, though faculty will be empowered to respond to non‑compliant attire.