Western University bans fake dreadlocks, headdresses during orientation week

Students help to carry the belongings of the first year students up the stairs, as they move into their residences at The University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011. (Dave Chidley / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

If you’re attending Western University’s orientation week next month, you’ll have to leave your fake dreadlocks at home. And don’t bother packing your bandana or native headdress either.

The university is introducing a beefed-up dress code for orientation week aimed at making the school more welcoming to all students and countering accusations of cultural insensitivity.

Items including bandanas, fake dreadlocks and Mohawks--which have become ubiquitous fashion accessories during the school’s orientation week—are now banned. Turbans and hijabs on students who aren’t wearing them for religious reasons are also prohibited. Bandanas, the university decided, could be perceived as threatening by students from countries with histories of violence where the coloured scarves are typically worn by perpetrators.

The school has also banned native headdresses, echoing a similar move by several Canadian music festivals last month.

Western’s orientation week co-chair Taryn Scripnick said the new rules were introduced after a number of students complained that it was insensitive for other students to be wearing such cultural items as fashion accessories.

“We have had a bit of a pushback from some individuals who believe we are taking away a tradition but when you are taking an item with such cultural significance to it and using it as a costume I think it’s a problem,” Scripnick said. “Orientation week is supposed to be about helping students transition and feel welcome and if there is a first-year who is not comfortable with some of these items we need to make sure we are addressing that.”

Scripnick said university officials have already contacted student leaders who co-ordinate orientation week activities and are asking them to encourage a culturally-sensitive approach when it comes to choosing outfits.

Orientation week at Western University stars on Sept. 6.