By: Journalist Christopher Ungaro (TU)
During the afternoon of Friday’s session in the Senate, President Pro Tempore Kai Marron issued an order regarding the enforcement of the dress code that expelled every female senator present from the Senate.
His interpretation of the dress code was that all jackets must be accompanied by ties, no matter the gender of the wearer, and it was based on his interpretation that he expelled all female senators, who were not wearing ties with their jackets.
This proclamation threw the Senate into disarray, with senators having near-unanimous opposition to the motion, but with a range of disagreements amid opinions regarding the basis of opposition.
“I feel like that was unfair since our dress code should not be restraining us from giving out our opinions just because we did not wear a silly tie… what happens if someone is not able to access a tie or does not have enough money for a tie; that would be very unfair to do to someone,” Sen. Kayla Diaz said.
Her opinion was a common one, with many believing that a lack of a single article of clothing should not restrict the participation of any member. Others felt the dress code should specifically only mandate men must wear ties with their jackets.
“It is not clarified by gender, and I feel like that is not fair… I would love to see a change… that would specify genders and explaining what the dress code is under a definition for each. I think that we should not be under the same standard,” Sen. Alexis Horton said.
Additionally, many had contradicting beliefs regarding the president’s motives in making the order.
“I thought it was extremely interesting that he bans most of the females from the Senate,” Sen. Nicky Gooden said. “I believe that was an excess of power on his part by trying to promote his bill that he wrote regarding dress code.”
Sen. James Hayes disagreed.
“I think his intentions were very meritable or very good,” Sen. Hayes said. “He just wants to be able to extend dress code that is not masculine to everybody and to be able to incorporate members who do not identify as males and who do not dress as males, and also to less economically well off delegates who maybe cannot afford a traditional suit and tie.”