KRTLiving on a college campus gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase “just rolled out of bed.” When your classroom is barely a two-minute walk away from your bedroom it is tempting to come to class in your pajamas. Students and professors here at Cabrini seem to agree that pajamas have become an accepted early morning fashion. This trend has also been slowly working its way down from college into the lives of an even younger generation and may soon become the unofficial uniform for many.
Students can be seen all over campus in a variety of attire, pajamas included. Cabrini is definitely no stranger to the pajama craze. An informal poll showed that students were split down the middle on this issue. Some said they never, or rarely ever, wore pajamas to class. The other half said they wore them often and thought there was nothing wrong with it.
Interestingly enough younger middle school and high school students have begun to embrace the trend of wearing pajamas to class. Many attribute the beginnings of this trend to college students and their penchant for wearing pajamas out in public. Some schools are currently divided in a controversy over whether or not to put a ban on sleepwear in schools.
School officials may be fighting a losing battle though. Matching pajama sets sporting all sorts of designs can be found in every major clothing retailer. Meanwhile some parents and even teachers are beginning to accept the trend and, unlike many school officials, have given up the fight. “I don’t really mind if students wear pajamas to class in the morning as long as they are awake and alert and not falling asleep,” said Dr. Jeffrey Gingerich, an associate professor of sociology. This appears to be a common sentiment among professors and teachers who feel that education is more important than what a student is wearing to class.
However, others feel that pajamas give the wrong impression and should not be worn as regular clothing. “If you come to class in pajamas it shows you don’t have the respect to present yourself in that manner in front of your peers and professors.” said Craig Vagell, the communications center supervisor. It’s true that the impression you give through your appearance reflects back on you. Pajamas fail to give off the impression of seriousness and professionalism that will be expected of many students when they enter the working world.
Some students echoed this sentiment as well. “I think it’s ok for morning classes but after 9:40 classes it looks sloppy,” said Jillian Smith, a freshman communications major. Others however, suggested that getting dressed helped them wake up in the morning and get in the right frame of mind for class. “I have never worn pajamas to class and I am proud of it,” said Ginger Daddona, a junior English and communications major, who was adamant about her reluctance to wearing sleepwear to class.
So the opinions remain divided. Pajamas may be comfortable and even somewhat practical at college, especially in the morning. But in an institution that is supposed to be preparing students for the professional world, is it right to condone such casual attire? Freshman business major Derrick Horn said, “That’s their own personal decision to come to class like that.” College students are old enough to choose what they want to wear to class, but what about younger students? Many schools also feel that it is the responsibility of the parents of middle school, and high school students even, to moderate what their children wear. If parents have no objections to their clothing than the school does not have the right to intervene.
Most college students go to class with the knowledge that pajamas are not something they can wear to a job interview or in the workplace, but promoting this trend in younger generations could have different results.
The varying opinions on pajamas suggest that it is not likely school officials or even parents will be able to come to an easy decision on the appropriateness of pajamas in school. It also seems that college students will continue to wear whatever they please to class. It is important to realize though that this trend does not exist only in college, that this simple trend of convenience and comfort may be quietly transforming a younger generation into permanent pajama junkies.
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Posted to the web by Tim Hague
