Update: Cambridge University Kilt Ban

[MACKAY]

From the Dundee Evening Telegraph & Post - May 11th, 2005

Price of wearing a kilt is...token fine

Efforts by Dundee City SNP councillor Nigel Don to seek clarification about the apparent ban on kilts at graduation ceremonies have shown the situation to be even more confused than originally thought, writes Brian Allison, local government reporter.
Mr Don is himself a Cambridge graduate and could recall no such ban being in force while he was studying.

“I didn’t wear a kilt to my graduation simply because of the cost of hiring one, but I was not aware of anyone being prevented from doing so,” he said.

In the wake of the row sparked earlier this year by a ban on kilts and tartan being worn to graduations, Mr Don wrote to his old alma mater to get first hand information about what was going on.

The response he received indicated there had always been a dress code for graduations, but it hadn’t been enforced until recently when there was a formal complaint from one of the colleges.

Now the rules are to be enforced but, confusingly, the university said there is no question of a graduand being turned away from the ceremony.

Instead, any official who presents a graduand in non-regulation dress will be fined a symbolic amount.

Dr Timothy Mead, Registrary of the University of Cambridge, said, “As a result of a formal complaint made from one college, and because the instances of wearing non-regulation dress were becoming more prolific and extreme, the Senate House Syndicate reviewed the position and decided that it would be appropriate to enforce the regulation from now on.”

But he added that the proctors —elected officials charged with overseeing discipline and public order within the university — would do everything possible to accommodate every graduate and said, “There is no question of a graduand being turned away.”

Wading through the apparent contradictions contained in the statement, Mr Don said it appears the bottom line is that no student is likely to be refused entry to the graduation ceremony, even if wearing a kilt, so the “ban” has no practical effect.

He believes the fine for presenting a graduand in non-regulation dress will be only a token amount and not enough to put anyone off.

____________________________

Brian Mackay
"Manu Forti"

[Graham]

Ooooch, this smacks of a repeat of the English ban on wearing the kilt. Have they not learned their lesson, these educators?

[macwilkin]

Ooooch, this smacks of a repeat of the English ban on wearing the kilt. Have they not learned their lesson, these educators?

Comparing this to the Proscription Act of 1746 may be a wee bit extreme. It sounds more like a money-making scheme to me, fining folks for "improper dress" at graduation, similar to the racket my alma mater had in selling more parking permits (at $70-100 a pop) than there were parking spaces! :mrgreen:

Cheers,

Todd

[highlander_Daz]

Cambridge is another example of ignorance rather than Scotland V England tensions, I know Todd will correct me if Im wrong but the Proscription Act of 1746 was introuduced by the British Government.

If I was at Cambridge I would wear my kilt every day- knowing that if I was prevented I could sue the university into a tent, there are any nimber of equality laws and acts that prevent being dictated to what to wear. I dont know how they find the time to dream up regulations like this.

there was a recent case in England where a head teacher banned girls from wearing Skirts because they wore them at an indecent length, Im not sure of the outcome. I know that girls cannot be prevented from wearing trousers in schools anymore in Britain.

[Colin]

Cambridge is another example of ignorance rather than Scotland V England tensions, I know Todd will correct me if Im wrong but the Proscription Act of 1746 was introuduced by the British Government.

If I was at Cambridge I would wear my kilt every day- knowing that if I was prevented I could sue the university into a tent, there are any nimber of equality laws and acts that prevent being dictated to what to wear. I dont know how they find the time to dream up regulations like this.

there was a recent case in England where a head teacher banned girls from wearing Skirts because they wore them at an indecent length, Im not sure of the outcome. I know that girls cannot be prevented from wearing trousers in schools anymore in Britain.

Now there is a great idea! If you are forbidden from wearing you kilt to your graduation, than just wear your kilts everyday. You will of course need to follow the guidelines for grad, but the day to day win would be almost worth it.