Opinion: No Bikinis at Spring Fling: Has PACS Ever Been to the Beach?

By Frankie Colao

Published April 27

Event organizers announced on Instagram a dress code for this year’s beach-themed Spring Fling, an event that has not previously had a dress code. The policy states: “All students attending who are dressed on theme must wear acceptable beach attire. Acceptable beach attire includes an over-shirt for those who are wearing a bikini top, pants, and shoes.”

In regards to the dress code, I reached out to Jess Dutille, Director of Student Life, for a statement as to how and why the policy was implemented and was referred to PACS. I then reached out to Avery Hazelton, President of PACS, who declined to comment.

Nobody has provided any jusstification or reasoning for this policy. On any given day, you see frat boys running around campus with no shirt and no repercussions, leading me to believe that, like all other dress codes, this policy is meant exclusively for female students.

Specifically, by stating no bikini tops are allowed, Spring Fling’s organizers are attempting to control the bodies of students, because apparently women’s shoulders are too distracting for police officers to effectively regulate the festivities. Or perhaps they are too distracting for Groove Boston’s tired old set.

I want to emphasize the absurdity of prohibiting bikini tops at a beach-themed concert. I can’t help but wonder: has PACS ever been to the beach?

If you’re a student who’s pissed off by Student Life and PACS’s attempt to regulate what you, an adult, can wear at a concert, you should be. I, in fact, wore a bikini top last year, and it was completely fine because I am an adult who is entirely capable of deciding what she is allowed to wear, and so are you.