A petition launched on Jan. 6 called for an end to a “fingertip length” shorts rule allegedly enforced in UREC facilities. Photo by Noah Whitehead | Photo Editor.
Incident that led to outcry resulted from miscommunication, university officials say.
Students launched an online petition last week criticizing
an alleged decision by University Recreation to enforce a “fingertip length”
shorts dress code in UREC facilities. UREC officials have since responded,
stating the incident that sparked the petition resulted from a
miscommunication.
A Reddit post published on Jan. 6 claimed UREC had banned
girls from wearing certain shorts in the gyms on campus, citing the enforcement
of a “fingertip length” rule. Users then began to circulate the petition,
entitled “Stop Enforcing the Finger-Tip Length Rule for Shorts at UTD’s UREC,”
which has since garnered over 150 signatures.
UREC Director Tricia Losavio said the miscommunication
stemmed from one student employee conflating UREC’s employee dress code — which
requires employees, including student workers, to wear clean and appropriate
shorts or pants — with the athletic wear standards for patrons using UREC
facilities.
“Somebody asked what the dress code policy was, not knowing
they were different for the patrons and for the staff,” Losavio said. “That’s
when it went off the rails. People were being told to leave or told they
couldn’t work out in this, this and this, and once it got full circle to us, we
did our own investigation. (The dress code) is for student staff when they’re
at work, not for people who work out.”
Chris McAlpine, UREC’s associate director of facility
operations, said there was no policy change, contrary to what was discussed in
the Reddit post, and said that UREC has no “fingertip length” policy.
“Anyone’s welcome to wear whatever length athletic shorts
they like, assuming they are an appropriate piece of clothing,” McAlpine said.
“For the most part, if somebody complains about something being offensive or
they’re offended by it, we ask that party to please come back with a change of
clothes that is more appropriate.
Losavio said she and McAlpine sent an email to all
employees after the incident to clarify that UREC has no “fingertip” or
“short-short” rule. The staff will meet in February to reiterate information to
student and professional staff and resolve the miscommunication.
“If you’re unsure, ask,” Losavio said.
“We just want everybody to have a comfortable, safe and clean environment.”