Kampua Talk

I never imagined that the previous post on dress code in UUM received overwhelming (ala Air Asia) response. I was and still am pretty tempted to put the link of the post into the university’s public forum. A few comments actually caught my attention and they are all from Ramon:

Yo Sibu friends,

I logged in, I saw and I read. I know what you guys feel about all of these idiotic rules and regulations. Trust me friends, this is just nothing but a silly way to show its so called uniformity. I am so glad that I managed to leave the country back then and skipped all these crappy rules in which do not reflect anything wise about the university itself. Friends, like Malay proverb says…”Hangat hangat tahi ayam”. This won’t last long. Let me tell you guys one thing what we’re missing here. We’re missing the freedom of speech. Students here can’t complaint. They can’t say what they feel. They train all of you guys to learn how to OBEY. No offence for those who are wearing tudung or scarfs and all, but the truth is some of them are far worse than those who are not wearing. About the issues of renting cars, or even going out of the border for so called “released tension” idea, is commonly done by those who pretended to be good and pious. People, get real! I pity those who are smart and intelligent. You guys are wasting your time learning with some idiots. I thoroughly understand your situation. I hate people putting up nonsensible rules and regulations. All in all, that reflects their maturity and intelligence.

 And the second comment:

I did send a bit of my silent disagreement of how local varsities treat their fellow wonderful students. It does challenge my thought of how silly these people are. Rules and regulations are meant to control people. But, judging from the picture of the banner, it looks so ridiculous. How does this affect the university as a whole? I don’t see anything that offend any form of religions nor beliefs with the idea of wearing short skirts and long pants? Perhaps, their mentality and maturity level fail to comprehend and to adapt to these so called CLOTHING STYLES.

It is not a big issue for some people but to some extend it does create some misundertanding among people. Best thing is to hear their explanation on why can’t they let their students wearing those things. Again, I believe it is not intelligent enough for them to implement such idiotic and aimless rules.

Last but not least and equally constructive: 

Interesting topic to talk about huh… I guess what is behind this is simply an act to show that they care for their so called status and all.

Back in the States, students and teachers are like friends. They share their knowledge and life. But here, it isn’t. I am an educator myself. I find it very amusing and simply nonsensical at all. I know that there are some teachers out there who tarnish their reputations by having affairs with their very own students. But, let’s be clear about why is such shameful scenario taking place in our community far more than others.

Real reason lies in our very own philosophy and etiquette in whatever things we do. It is not the clothes that count but the morality and honesty. By setting up nonsensical rules and regulations as such discussed earlier will not have any whatsoever effects on students’ well being and development in studies. In fact, the issue of comfort is the most important factor of all that needs to be looked upon. Students should be comfortable with the place and the system. Then only we can produce excellent people out of it. Let me put it this way, you own a factory but your workers are hungry and unhappy, you do the maths. Why do people in western countries excel more than us? Have you guys ever thought of that? Well, these people need not wearing scarfs and fully covered clothes whenever they attend lectures or tutorial classes. Some of them can be clasified as half naked… but these people score big. Better than some of our so called ’standard’ students here. They are comfortable and happy with the place and the system.

My point here is, there are other important issues that these people should pay more attention than creating hatred between students and university. As I could recall, my university years were always be the best time of my life. The most memorable time of all, in fact. I enjoyed my studies and little that I could complaint about. Why is that so? I guess we dared ourselves to voice out our opinions and critiques, should we find it logical and sensible to do so. Each and every student has rights to suggest and to complaint.

So Clare, my suggestion is someone has to voice it out loud. For 50 years now, Malaysia was not built by sympathy nor out of someone’s courtesy. We fought for this piece of land. We are building it till this very second. I am sure our future will never be as bright and glorious as we’ve planned if our students today are nothing but the ‘living dead’.

There, my friends, Ramon had said it all. A round of applause for Ramon *clap clap clap*

Well, on the voicing out part, I really have to weigh the consequences. From the way things are run here and the people who run things here, I doubt I can get out of here alive!