A dress code implemented by Jaberwoke, a restaurant and bar located on the Corner, has generated debate in the University community as some claim that the new stipulations discriminate against certain racial groups.
The dress code, established last semester, prohibits hats without brims, baggy clothing, sweatpants, plain white t-shirts and camouflage unless worn by a member of the Armed Forces.
Additionally, under a behavior code, customers may be asked to leave if they do not tip, are not respectful of other customers or do not follow instructions given by Jaberwoke's staff.
According to Anderson McClure, co-owner of Jaberwoke, the Virginian and West Main, the dress code has been created to improve the quality of customers' experience at the restaurant.
"The main idea is to make the Jaberwoke a nicer place to go," McClure said. "The quality of the Corner has been increasing for a while now, and our belief is that the expectations of our customer base have been increasing."
McClure said he hopes the dress code will promote good behavior within Jaberwoke.
"There certainly have been numerous occasions where people have come in and caused problems," McClure said. "People who are dressed nicer tend to behave better."
Second-year Law student Gabriel Walters, president of the American Civil Liberties Union chapter of the Law School, said Jaberwoke's new dress code reminded him of a case in Norfolk, Va. where the ACLU of Virginia has filed a suit against Kokoamos Island Bar, Grill and Yacht Club for prohibiting costumers who have braids, twists, cornrows or dreadlocks in their hair.
"The policy itself and the items of clothing listed may be racially neutral; however, the intent of the policy is suspicious and I think that the application of the policy may very well be race specific," Walters said.
According to Rebecca Glenberg, a representative from the ACLU of Virginia, the difference between prohibiting hairstyles versus a dress code is that clothing can be easily removed while hair is a part of a customer's body.
"We think that dress codes are fine as long as you apply them across the board," Glenberg said.
McClure said he believed any claims of racial undertones in Jaberwoke's dress code are "ridiculous."
"I don't think a person's ethnicity is defined by their clothing, but their personality may vary well be indicated by dress," McClure said. "What we are talking about here is not ethnicity or race, we are talking about behavior and personality."
Despite this, some students have expressed concern over the limitations of the new dress code.
"The biggest issue that I saw in it is that it doesn't directly affect different ethnic backgrounds but it does imply such, especially with baggy jeans and white t-shirts" said Greg Thompson, former president of Alpha Phi Alpha, a historically black fraternity. "It does not seem to take into consideration the cultural traditions of certain clothes."
The code, based on research done on similar establishments, will be altered as needed on a case by case basis, according to McClure.
**This article has been edited to reflect a correction. The co-owners name was originally spelled "McCluer"
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