Grambling State University Chief of Police Michael Storr says that GSU is not a place for sagging pants, but a place of integrity, a place of business.
“This small town university is an environment set on professionalism. Sagging is unacceptable,” said Storr.
At Langston University where he previously worked, saggy pants was not a part of their dress code violations. There were no direct consequences or violations for those who sagged.
“We enforced it at my old school,” Storr said. “It was not a part of the polices, but it was not tolerated.”
Sagging can be traced to the early 1980s when it started in the prison system. It was said that it was used to indicate homosexuality in the prisons, and in the early and late ’90s sagging became one of the biggest fashion trends in American society.
“If students knew the background they would not sag,” said Storr. “I don’t understand why students come to college if they are going to wear the saggy pants. When they graduate it will not be presentable in a professional setting.”
In the GSU Code of Student Conduct Handbook, on page 28, section S, letter b, it states, “Lounging shoes, lounging slippers, bare feet, short-shorts, sagging pants (exposing undergarments), lounging pants (except in the privacy of the student’s living quarters)” are considered inappropriate attire.
Students are responsible for following the polices that are listed in the handbook, even though consequences are not clearly stated.
Every issue has to first be presented and evaluated by the policy committee before it can have any type of penalties or consequences.
“We plan on presenting this issue to the committee,” Storr said. “That is all we can do as of right now. The committee will make the final decision.”
If the committee adds this to the policies, saggy pants will have repercussions and could even result in getting a fine.