First Confrontation
Posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28: Previous Next
Well all in all I think it went pretty well.
A little background first, for those who may not know.
I am attending a 2-year college in East Texas whose enrollment this year was almost 400 (200 fall semester, 200 spring semester). Graduating class is less than 50 each year. Nice home-ish environment, small classes, 1-on-1 help from teachers etc. Everybody knows the president of the college, and the president knows everybody; even me (he mainly knows me as the guy who starts debating for hemp legalization in gov class). It is owned by a Baptist organization in Texas, and has rather strict "appearance" code (it covers piercings and tattoos, along with hair and dress). Men's hair is not supposed to get below the collar.
Now for the longest time this hasn't been a problem with me because of how curly my hair is and how long my neck is. Well, now it is.
I was confronted in a very cordial manner by the president, and informed that I was outside the bounds of the code, and that I would be required to get a haircut. I pulled out an elastic band and put my hair in a ponytail, which due to the curliness kind of looks like a low bun BUT: it got it above my collar. He looked at me, kind of screwed up his mouth a bit, then smiled and said "that'll do". He then said that the ponytail would still be ok once it got below my collar. You know, for a Baptist, he's not that bad a guy :)
That "Ball" Guy
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by GrowingIt2 on March 05, 2004 at 15:03:14: Previous Next
In Reply to: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28:
Congratulations. That is a surprise, especially in a conservative place like Texas. It is cool to see that you didn't get defensive and angry over it. Nice to see that the President knows what battles to fight.
Good news all around.
You do have some curls. Mine is thick and wavy. I am only into my 12th week of growth. Have a long way to go but it is already mid ear level, so getting there.
Steve
: Well all in all I think it went pretty well.
: A little background first, for those who may not know.
: I am attending a 2-year college in East Texas whose enrollment this year was almost 400 (200 fall semester, 200 spring semester). Graduating class is less than 50 each year. Nice home-ish environment, small classes, 1-on-1 help from teachers etc. Everybody knows the president of the college, and the president knows everybody; even me (he mainly knows me as the guy who starts debating for hemp legalization in gov class). It is owned by a Baptist organization in Texas, and has rather strict "appearance" code (it covers piercings and tattoos, along with hair and dress). Men's hair is not supposed to get below the collar.
: Now for the longest time this hasn't been a problem with me because of how curly my hair is and how long my neck is. Well, now it is.
: I was confronted in a very cordial manner by the president, and informed that I was outside the bounds of the code, and that I would be required to get a haircut. I pulled out an elastic band and put my hair in a ponytail, which due to the curliness kind of looks like a low bun BUT: it got it above my collar. He looked at me, kind of screwed up his mouth a bit, then smiled and said "that'll do". He then said that the ponytail would still be ok once it got below my collar. You know, for a Baptist, he's not that bad a guy :)
: That "Ball" Guy
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by Luckskind on March 05, 2004 at 18:29:51: Previous Next
In Reply to: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28:
:I pulled out an elastic band and put my hair in a ponytail... He looked at me, kind of screwed up his mouth a bit, then smiled and said "that'll do". ~That Ball Guy
You know, putting one's hair in a tail is like a 'tip of the hat' for some people.
Almost as if you are saying: "Okay, I understand your feelings on this matter, so out of respect those feelings/codes/rules I am restraining my hair."
Now, for the president of your college (who seems to be very tolerant)
this 'acquiescence' was enough to satisfy him,
and you got to keep your long hair.
Okay, so that isn't total freedom, but this world is made up of
lots of give and take...
at least if we are going to have any hope of getting along.
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by High Priestess on March 05, 2004 at 19:26:19: Previous Next
In Reply to: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28:
Great story! They're not all bad. lol They are all human, some more than others.
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by Sorted on March 06, 2004 at 09:52:34: Previous Next
In Reply to: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28:
Personally I wouldn't have even offered the compromise, but then I'm a confrontational kinda person... I love the opportunity to argue about something, especailly a topic I'm familiar with... (I've been arguing against hair regulations in the workplace and college since I was 13 years old.) I'd say bring it on!
But then again I've lived in Liberal European cultures all my life and biggots are a minority... you live in Texas, where you wont have the same widespread support.
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by Rokker on March 06, 2004 at 13:22:25: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: First Confrontation posted by Sorted on March 06, 2004 at 09:52:34:
: But then again I've lived in Liberal European cultures all my life and biggots are a minority... you live in Texas, where you wont have the same widespread support.
I lived in Europe for 13 years. And boy do I miss it.
The United States is a country full of very uptight, stressed out people who seem to get offended by everything. Of course, I'm overgeneralizing, but I sure do miss being in a place where people tend to leave each other alone and allow each other to live as they choose.
What part of Europe? I lived in Germany and Britain, and have spent a great deal of time in every western European country.
I almost stayed there permanently in 1991. Looking back now, well.....maybe I should have.
Cheers!
Me? - I'm a Brit Abroad!
Posted by Sorted on March 07, 2004 at 11:35:41: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: First Confrontation posted by Rokker on March 06, 2004 at 13:22:25:
: The United States is a country full of very uptight, stressed out people who seem to get offended by everything. Of course, I'm overgeneralizing,
Reminds me of line I heard on TV recently: "All Generalizations are false - including that one..."
: What part of Europe? I lived in Germany and Britain, and have spent a great deal of time in every western European country.
I'm British, but I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) - We're not without biggots, but they are not the norm. Most Canarians are liberals, they care about the environment, public services, transport and employment, (things that matter,) though they are a little overly Nationalist.
Still all my Canarian friends and colleagues have been supportive and encouraging about growing long hair. The biggots whilst a minority have all being British.
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by That Ball Guy on March 06, 2004 at 13:40:28: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: First Confrontation posted by Sorted on March 06, 2004 at 09:52:34:
: Personally I wouldn't have even offered the compromise, but then
:I'm a confrontational kinda person... I love the opportunity
:to argue about something, especailly a topic I'm familiar with...
Well, just as the president had to choose which battles to fight, so did I. I'm close to graduating, and I don't want to get into a debate that could prevent that from happening when I can just pull it back.
After all, the hair code is expressly stated in the Student Handbook, and when I enrolled there I agreed to abide by the terms stated therein.
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by Sorted on March 07, 2004 at 11:26:03: Previous Next
In Reply to: Re: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 06, 2004 at 13:40:28:
: After all, the hair code is expressly stated in the Student Handbook, and when I enrolled there I agreed to abide by the terms stated therein.
I could argue past this one too - I have many times... but thats not what the thread is about...
Though really I'm glad you handled it in a way that left you happy with the outcome and you certainly didn't inflate the situation. I think you made the right choice - I however would have made the wrong one... I just know I would!
Re: First Confrontation
Posted by ColdFlu on March 08, 2004 at 07:16:18: Previous Next
In Reply to: First Confrontation posted by That Ball Guy on March 05, 2004 at 14:55:28:
Very cool story man! Sounds like you have a great president running that campus.