There really is no other explanation for this fascist drivel of a “dress code” that is now being imposed on staff and students at what was hitherto regarded as a world-leading university.
Ironically, the Independent today published a piece about the now-criminalised “hoodies” becoming haute cautre.
agreed
I’m an Imperial alumnus, as are many of my friends – this announcement did the email rounds pretty quickly.
If it had been sparked by a particular incident on campus where hoodies had been used to conceal the identity of malefactors it might be more explicable. But it seems to have been sparked purely by a general "heightened state of security" – all a bit tenuous. Imperial often gave me the impression of being more obsessed with security than many other universities.
My impression of hijabs is that they don’t actually conceal the face – most girls wear them neatly clipped back with hair grips.
All a bit OTT really …
Hmm
I’m doing my doctorate at Queen Mary where there is a very high proportion of Islamic students. Whilst I’m not au fait with the different strands of Islam, there is a clear distinction between those who are fully veiled and those whose actual face is clearly displayed.
I’ve encountered university staff from across the country who have long felt uneasy about students whose face is concealed by their clothing and it doesn’t surprise me that institutions will introduce new rules the moment they think there is some general justification for it. Imperial may have been one of the first (it is on the Picadilly Line) but there are others who want this just as much.