Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) has withdrawn its previously restricted dress code policy, allowing students more clothing choices and marking a notable shift toward self-expression and comfort on campus.

Samahan ng Mga Mag-Aaral ng Pamantasang Ateneo de Davao (SAMAHAN) President Hannah Aquino pushed for the revision of the dress code policy to address the long-standing concerns of inclusivity in the university.

“In the past, many students felt that the dress code did not fully reflect the diverse realities of our community. Female students often experienced stricter expectations on attire, while others from different economic backgrounds found certain footwear restrictions limiting.”

Aquino also revealed that SAMAHAN and the Office of the Student Affairs (OSA) collaborated to uphold student demands beyond academics and foster a more student-centered, open environment.

“SAMAHAN is committed to ensuring that the policy truly serves Ateneans—not just in principle, but in practice. Together with OSA, we are working to provide clarity in implementation so that students always have a voice,” she added.

OSA Assistant Director Atty. Ira Calatrava-Valenzuela supported the revision of the dress code policy, noting that other universities have eliminated dress codes while maintaining acceptable standards of behavior. 

“When I benchmarked at Ateneo de Manila University as a member of the GAD Committee (Gender and Development Focal Point Committee), I observed that it is possible to have no dress code at all and still maintain proper decorum.” 

Centering fair treatment, expression in campus policy

Under the revised dress code, students are allowed to wear sleeveless and spaghetti-strap tops, as long as racerbacks and tube tops are paired with proper outerwear, while shorts and torn pants are now permitted, along with sandals, though rubber slippers remain disallowed in classrooms. 

Despite the dress code not being fully abolished, changes are evident as students can now wear their preferred outfits on washdays without formal reprimands.

First-year BS Mechanical Engineering student Sam Prado expressed relief over fewer wardrobe restrictions, easing their financial concerns.

“The new dress code allows me to worry less about the economic factors one must account for when choosing clothes. For example, I don’t have to constantly get my pants washed as shorts are now an option,” Prado said.

First-year AB Communication student Abdul Karon also voiced his comfort with the new dress code policy, making him able to express himself more with the broad choice of clothes to wear.

“I get to dress whatever I want, wearing mini skirts, feminine shorts, and crop tops, which help me build my confidence, unlike before,”  he stated.

Efforts toward a more inclusive university

In pursuit of creating a safer space environment, Ateneo Libulan Circle (ALC) and Protection of Women’s Equality and Rights (POWER) AdDU lobby for the incorporation and recognition of gender-inclusive policies that reflect the student body’s lived realities within the university. 

POWER AdDU Secretary-General Mariel Abigail Panuncialman calls for the implementation of a mandatory gender sensitivity training for all faculty members and departments, ensuring that inclusivity is not merely symbolic but actively upheld in practice.

“…POWER AdDU hopes to witness the implementation of mandatory SOGIESC training not only for the faculty and departments but also for the guards who are primarily responsible for enforcing dress codes.”

Panuncialman underscored that the revision only marks the beginning of a much larger institutional shift, emphasizing that inclusivity cannot be confined to written policy but must be consistently practiced across all levels of the university.

“This revision is not the end, but rather the starting point of a larger shift that must be supported by continuous dialogue, education, and accountability from everyone in the Ateneo community…While this policy opens the door toward inclusivity, we also recognize that a written policy does not automatically change attitudes. What truly makes it transformative is when it is consistently applied, understood, and upheld in classrooms, offices, and daily interactions.”

Panuncialman further noted that the absence of formal misgendering complaints from students should not be mistaken for the absence of the issue itself.

“Sometimes, students choose to remain quiet out of fear of being judged or invalidated, especially when authority figures are involved,” she explained.

ALC President Sam Gaebryle Montejo also shared the queer organization’s response to the limited freedom of the use of lived names to the student body.

“To ensure that the university is a place where every student is truly seen, not just tolerated, the ALC demands that the University prioritize revising administrative protocols. This must allow for the easy and official use of lived names on all internal class lists and communication platforms,” said Montejo.

Editor’s Note: This article was first issued in the December 2025 First Semester Newsletter of Atenews.