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I'm thinking of things like this -- * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress_of_the_University_of_Oxford#Subfusc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dre

by gmac 15y ago

I'm thinking of things like this -- * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress_of_the_University_of_Oxford#Subfusc http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_dress_of_the_Universit... * http://ask.metafilter.com/59198/Why-do-students-at-Oxford-University-wear-carnations-to-exams http://ask.metafilter.com/59198/Why-do-students-at-Oxford-Un... * "If the Proctors consider you not to be dressed correctly they reserve the right to refuse you entry. Any infringements involve the Praelector in paying a fine of a bottle of Port!" (http://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/Graduation-2011/ http://www.clare.cam.ac.uk/Graduation-2011/) -- which serve no obvious purpose, but can potentially make people feel that Oxbridge students are strange and different (and maybe posh or snobbish), and not the kind of people they'd like to be around or become. I'm not saying this is always an easy call, though. Once you're there, a bit of harmless tradition can of course be fun.

JustThisOnePost 15y ago
A dress code is a dress code. If you go in short, no shirt and flip-flops to a club they wont let you in. Why will the most historic/renowned/respected university in the world does not have the right to impose 'admission criteria', in this case clothing. Now regarding the fine... i agree with you.
amirmc 15y ago
I can see your point but academic dress is used at many institutions. The only difference here seems to be there are more occasions in Oxbridge where people are required to wear it. You also say ...but can potentially make people feel that Oxbridge students are strange and different..., which I completely understand. However, I get the impression that Oxbridge gets a lot of attention and people almost look for the idiosyncrasies so they can point them out. I've never heard of anyone being fined bottles of port at Cambridge but I wouldn't be surprised if there were such rule written down somewhere in the last 800 years. It's akin to strange rules like commoners not being allowed to drive sheep through London. It might still be illegal but no-one pays it any attention (nor can they be bothered to repeal it).[1] (Disclaimer: Grad school at Cambridge) [1] I have no idea if that's true and I've heard variations that involve tolls and geese. My point is that although such outdated laws exist, no-one really goes looking for them.

by gmac 15y ago

JustThisOnePost 15y ago

A dress code is a dress code. If you go in short, no shirt and flip-flops to a club they wont let you in. Why will the most historic/renowned/respected university in the world does not have the right to impose 'admission criteria', in this case clothing. Now regarding the fine... i agree with you.

amirmc 15y ago

I can see your point but academic dress is used at many institutions. The only difference here seems to be there are more occasions in Oxbridge where people are required to wear it. You also say ...but can potentially make people feel that Oxbridge students are strange and different..., which I completely understand. However, I get the impression that Oxbridge gets a lot of attention and people almost look for the idiosyncrasies so they can point them out. I've never heard of anyone being fined bottles of port at Cambridge but I wouldn't be surprised if there were such rule written down somewhere in the last 800 years. It's akin to strange rules like commoners not being allowed to drive sheep through London. It might still be illegal but no-one pays it any attention (nor can they be bothered to repeal it).[1] (Disclaimer: Grad school at Cambridge) [1] I have no idea if that's true and I've heard variations that involve tolls and geese. My point is that although such outdated laws exist, no-one really goes looking for them.