DLSU-D enforces uniform changes; draws flak from students
Originally published in Heraldo Filipino Volume 38, Double Issue
The De La Salle University-Dasmarinas (DLSU-D) administration held an orientation regarding the implementation of University’s new school uniforms for the academic year (AY) 2024-2025 “to serve as an equalizer and a security measure among students,” which in return, received backlash from Lasallians.
In an online orientation, the hosts, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administrative Support Mary Felidora Amparo and Albert Puchero, announced that four sets of uniforms, namely: Type A, Type B, Type C, and Type C+, will be released to ensure uniformity among students of different college levels and to help identify non-students easily.
The Type A uniform is a formal business attire to be used during off-campus events and business attire day, whereas the Type B uniform will be used during special occasions such as masses and commencement exercises. Meanwhile, the Type C uniform will be the students’ daily uniform and its alternative Type C+ will be used during the rainy season or days with warm temperatures.
“Uniforms are equalizers… hindi lahat ng members ng Lasallian community can actually afford clothes na araw-araw [ay] iba itsura, and somehow, because of that limitation… nagiging cause ng peer pressure,” she stated. She also added that its another purpose is security, reiterating that in a University that most of the time opens events to public, it becomes easy to infiltrate by non-DLSU-D students.
Students criticized this due to its impracticality and the design’s lack of Lasallian identity, given that the designs are not green in color, to which the University countered, saying that they chose khaki as the color due to its versatility and that excessive use of green would be visually unappealing.
“Mas flexible ‘yung khaki… marami siyang binabagayan… ‘yung green, very limiting ‘yan… we just want to be very flexible with your clothing… ‘yun lang ‘yon, ” she stated. She also reiterated, “Being La Salle, hindi ‘yan nakikita sa kulay ng suot niyo, kundi nakikita ‘yan sa how you carry yourself, sa ugali natin, paano tayo makitungo sa tao, paano tayo gumamit ng social media—what we say, what we share, how we influence other people—d’yan nakikita ang pagiging La Salle… ‘Yun ‘yung gusto naming i-emphasize this time. We’d like to see our students as Lasallians bilang tao, hindi bilang uniform.”
On the critique of its practicality due to the uniform being an additional expense amid the University’s tuition and other fees, they addressed this by stating that at least students will not have to splurge on casual clothes to wear onsite. Moreover, a scheme would also be offered to scholars to aid their purchase of uniforms.
Implementation of new uniforms
Starting the first week of August, the available items would be a polo, blouse, pants, shorts, and skorts. First-year students are also required to purchase the Type C on the first semester while second and third-year students’ selling schedules are to be announced.
Types A, B, and C will be required for the second semester with first-year students placed on top priority for purchasing. Second and third-year students’ selling schedules are also to be announced.
SWAFO will remind but not apprehend students not in uniform.
Addressing other concerns
After Lasallians raised the concern of the old uniforms going to waste, it was clarified that those who have already purchased the old version may continue using it instead of availing the newly-designed ones.
Graduating students are also not required to buy the new uniforms.
They also reiterated that male students cannot purchase female uniform items and vice-versa, as cross-dressing is still not allowed in the student handbook.
NSTP and PE uniforms are also planned to be updated in the following semesters.
