Hampton University and the School Of Business

I think this policy is absurd. You absolutely made the right decision not to go to Hampton. In a B-school, a "dress for success" workshop or two is not a bad idea. But telling people to cut their hair off because they think that's what corporate America will want is just plain stupid.

I've been in business almost 20 years now, and I've seen all kinds of policies and both overt and subtle discrimination based on the way people look. You will definitely find that you need to make compromises sometimes to fit in, or to avoid putting off customers. At the same time, to be successful in business you need to know how to take risks, and how to be confident about yourself. You can't do either if you are hiding your true self just to fit in.

As you point out, not all companies would discriminate against people with dreads or braids. If that's the way you like your hair, why not put things to the test? If a company won't hire you because of your hair, they don't deserve to have you. And in the long run, a company that would pass on someone because they had dreadlocks or braids is not progressive enough to survive in this world.

It is wrong for a school to discriminate like that. How can you make peopel change their culture. I undertands that there are rules in corporate america, but in a school?? If they want to make that sacrifice when it comes tiem to get a job, they can do that.

Please note--
The Dean of the School of Business did not impose hair restrictions on all HU business students. It is a rule that has been implemented during the program's beginnings. The original media coverage of this issue was reported from CNN on the 5-year MBA program at Hampton University. The entire school of business does not function under the hair policy. Although the restriction is crippling to the 5-year MBA students, it is important to note that it is the program, not the school, that imposes such restrictions. Students and other departmental representatives (in HU School of Business and other colleges) are deeply concerned and strongly oppose the hair policy. Unfortunately, it has done more than hurt MBA students.

A deeper question is why the "future" coporate America must be "cookie-cut" to the existing elite, white, male model (just watch CNN to see that). Appearance that conforms to that norm only perpetuates a norm originally primarily based on visible characteristics.
The down side to all of this is that many who would change the system may never be allowed into it because of such trivia. Maybe a strategy would be to fly below the radar, giving an appearance of conformity, until achieving some level of power from which change could be started...
rfg

This is why people shouldn't get their information from blogs- The Dean of the business school DID NOT announce that "ALL of the students who are in the school who are sporting dreadlocks or braids have to cut off their hair in order to stay in the school because in corporate america it wouldn't be acceptable." This is not true. There is NO hair policy for the School of Business. There IS one for a seminar in the 5-year MBA program. HOWEVER, this policy only applies to MALE students and, if they choose not to comply, they ARE NOT kicked out of school. They simply take another class in place of that seminar. And it has NOTHING to do with ethnicity. It is simply a matter of looking professional. The rule applies to all male students, not just African Americans. So if there were a white, male student with long hair or a mullet, he would be asked to cut his hair as well. While you still might not agree, there is a HUGE difference between what you stated and what the policy actually is.

Hampton legally can put restrictions on its students, although the intention of the schools is noble. The students see it as discriminatory act. Which it is. The concept of culture is mnemonic so wouldnt they be conforming to the mold as well for wearing braids? They would still be conforming to another mold for wearing suits and short haricuts as well. Either way a mold is being filled.

home equity loans

That's crazy...I mean no body should tell students what to do and what to wear in colleges.

I hear what everyone is saying and I can understand you all, however, as a student in the 5-Yr MBA at HU, allow me to shed some light on the situation...I will try very hard to keep this as objective as possible and avoid adding personal feelings.

It is true that we have a dress code for seminars and it is true that failure to comply with the dress code (as clearly outlined in the syllabus), in most cases results in the student leaving (it happened to me as a freshman). HOWEVER, this policy is not forced on the students as a means of discrimination and it doesn't suggest the assimilation of African American students into "the white man's world." These policies are set in place because, believe it or not, we as African American students have stereotypes that follow us everywhere we go. We must go above and beyond the expectations of society to get where we want to be if we choose to work for someone else. African Americans must not be ignorant to this fact although, I admit, it isn't present in every corporation.

Believe me, I wish that I could walk into an interview for a position on Wall Street and not worry about the possibility of having my appearance and every word, action and gesture be heavily scrutinized. But in real life, those are issues that I must take into consideration and that is the aim of this MBA program: to make us aware that these issues are real and that people have not received well-deserved jobs and promotions because of this.

Do I like it? Of course not, but those are the cards I was dealt. I am an African American student who has aspirations to make a huge impact on Wall Street...an industry that is welcoming of minorities yet is still in the process of utter and complete acceptance (I know from experience).

I'm not condemning those of you who chose not to attend this institution and I'm not glorifying those of us who did, however, I just want everyone to know the issues from an insider perspective. These are my views, presented in an objective manner...if you'd like to hear my personal thoughts or would like clarification on anything, let me know.