Next time students and faculty head to work out at the gym, they may have to re-think what they wear. As fliers were put up around Markin, Campus Recreation wants students to know they’re cracking down on the dress code.
“The policies were written when Markin opened in 2008. However, they had not been posted around the building and were not necessarily enforced by previous administrators in Campus Recreation and Athletic Facilities,” said Matthew Panich, Director of Campus Recreation & Athletic Facilities.
On Aug. 8, Bradley Campus Rec (@BU_CampusRec) tweeted the policy using a “permitted” and “not permitted” list of clothing items.
Not permitted items include: jeans, dress pants, dress shorts with rivets/buttons, sandals (outside pool area), bare feet, boots, high-heeled shoes, shirts showing midriff or only wearing sports bras, and apparel with offensive language.
According to the tweet, the purpose behind the change was “to provide safe and sanitary facilities, programs and services.”
Panich said Campus Recreation had decided to enforce these changes after safety concerns had arisen.
“The safety concerns cover a number of areas, the largest being the ease for transfer of bacteria and viruses in a recreation facility via skin contact and equipment. Specifically, staph infections and ringworm.”
Panich doesn’t believe students have so far negatively received the policy.
“We have received only a little bit of feedback, but specific interactions I have had with students has been positive,” said Panich.
Sophomore theatre arts major Laurel Burrington worries a double standard will form in banning shirts showing midriff/wearing sports bras only.
“If I see a guy in a cut-out shirt, they shouldn’t have a problem with me taking my shirt off,” said Burrington.
Senior sports communication major Ted Wick also has concerns about the ban.
“I don’t think the change is needed. If you’re comfortable in a sports bra, then that’s fine,” said Wick.
He also feels prohibiting jeans is unnecessary, specifically because the policy applies to all exercise areas, even the track.
“A lot of people just walk around the track in jeans just trying to get a light walk. I would always see professors doing that in between classes,” said Wick.
In order to ensure students are aware of the dress code, Markin faculty has put up fliers throughout the building as well as on social media.
Students with questions or concerns about the changes should address them to the Campus Recreation office.
