A new exhibit traces the development of the dress code, and focuses on a flash point in the late 1960s when a student was threatened with suspension for having hair that was slightly too long according to the dress code of the time.
At most colleges and universities these days, it would come as a surprise to have a dress code at all. Being able to dress however they want is something most college students take for granted these days, except when playing for a sports team or if they attend a military or very conservative institution.
But in 1967 at West Chester State College, a student named John Whiting was threatened with suspension for the length of his hair. As you can see in the photo of Whiting to the right, taken during a protest, his appearance seems formal to us now, his hairstyle not worth noting. It's a measure of how much things can change, and how rapidly, that Whiting's appearance was seen as anything but conventional, even conservative, at the time.
Whiting’s experience reflected a larger struggle between mainstream culture and countercultural youth movements in the 1960s, with physical appearance often signaling political leanings and cultural values. The length of men’s hair was one common point of contention. At West Chester, the student response to Whiting’s treatment led to extensive discussion and important changes on campus.
The exhibit contains images and documents from Special Collections. These include items from the newly processed Earl F. Sykes Collection, which contains a wealth of information about West Chester during the 1960s, when Sykes was president of the college.
Take a trip up to the sixth floor of the FHG Library and enjoy a fascinating glimpse into West Chest University’s history!
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