Union seeks code to ban short skirts

The Student Union of Bosnia's Tuzla University is campaigning to have miniskirts and low necklines banned from campus. They have appealed to the rector to preserve the dignity of the university by preventing "improperly"

dressed students from entering its premises, writes Vera Rich.

"We see students improperly dressed as well as behaving improperly," said Edin Haracic, a union official.

"This must be kept within limits, and the best way to do this is by amending the dress code and code of conduct."

The rector, Dzemo Tufekcic, strongly opposes the idea. He said the university should "create moral codes" by developing personal integrity, not by bans that would violate the rights of others.

The university senate is to meet to discuss the proposed ban. But not all Tuzla students support it. Members of the Revolt movement have spoken out strongly against it, asserting that dress should be a private matter for the individual.

Nina Zupan, a member of Revolt, said the advocates of the ban "have rooms at the university where they perform (Muslim) religious rites, and this is not appropriate in a secular, state university. Any true believer who wishes to pray can make up for it later if he cannot go to mosque at any given moment," she said.