Thank you, Dr. Brown

By Jim Thompson
HCP columnist

Dr. Mark A. Brown did a wonderful thing this week. Dr. Brown is the president of Tuskegee University (formerly the Tuskegee Institute) over in Alabama.  

You have no doubt heard of it, founded by Booker T. Washington and employing Dr. George Washington Carver (the inventor of peanut butter; see last week’s column).

Dr. Brown drew attention this past week with a statement to students.  

I’ll only quote a part of it: “We are preparing you for the boardroom, not the break room.”  

He went on to explain that Tuskegee’s updated policies including “expectations for professional attire, classroom behavior, attendance, and limiting cellphone use – are intended to help students develop habits expected in the workplace. 

"The guidance calls for students to wear business attire in many campus settings and prohibits items such as bedroom slippers, bonnets, du-rags, and revealing clothing in classrooms and dining facilities.”

This is leadership, folks, and an effort to put us back into real clothes.

I remember years ago when I lived in Missouri, I would occasionally need to fly to New York. People dressed up to do this.  

Now, when you get on a plane, you see people in pajamas (and with no underwear beneath it, and bath slippers).

I am not saying you have to wear the most fashionable clothes in the world, but for goodness’ sake, dress decently. Follow Dr. Brown’s policies.

This could just be the spark that brings us all around to becoming a civilized society once again.

For more on Dr. Brown, visit https://www.tuskegee.edu/administration/Office-of-the-President.html

Jim Thompson, formerly of Marshall, is a graduate of Hillsboro High School and the University of Cincinnati. He resides in Duluth, Ga. and is a columnist for The Highland County Press.