Uconn students have no class or style

UConn students have no class. How come in high school it was necessary to get all dressed up and look good, but when we get to college that obligation is thrown out the window? Yes, we are all very busy, and for some of us our first class is right across the street. But seriously, can we all just wake up five minutes earlier and put some decent clothes on rather than throwing on the hoodie, sweatpants or stretch pants, dirty sneakers and hat that were all lying on the floor from the night before.

For many UConn students, rather than even doing that, it looks like he or she simply awoke and went straight to class in a pair of pajamas. The messy "out-of-bed" look may look good for your hair when it is all gelled up, but when that look becomes an outfit for an entire semester, it is not very pleasing to the eye.

It is not that hard to look decent. All it takes is a good pair of jeans or khakis rather than those raggedy sweatpants or stretch pants. Perhaps a nice polo shirt or sweater rather than those ever-present UConn hoodies would be better. It does not even matter if your grandma knitted the sweater - it is probably better looking than those worn out UConn hoodies everybody wears on a daily basis.

There is definitely a lack of class and self-respect when it comes to the way students dress on this campus. However, that is not the problem, because in the end waking up that extra five minutes in the morning to put something nice on is a hassle for many of us. Some would much rather sleep for those extra five minutes. If you do not care about the way you look and like to dress comfortably, more power to you - you just do not have any class, along with most of the students on this campus.

The real problem on this campus is that the students who actually attempt to dress up nice have no sense of style. Most of these students just follow the passing trends, which at this moment are ridiculous and tacky. Therefore, I have composed a list of current fashion fads that make me want to stab myself in the eyes with a pencil just so I do not have to bear the pain of seeing them anymore. I hope some students will take notice so it will not have to come to that.

The most irritating trend at the moment has got to be guys' and girls' attempts to pull off something traditionally worn by the opposite gender. Guys, this metrosexual thing has gone a little too far. Yes, it is funny to see a guy wear pink or baby blue, but it was only funny the first time. Now that it has become a trend, it has become very annoying.

For girls, the gender bender article of clothing is the baseball cap. I know it is an exciting time with the Red Sox-Yankees series, but it is not necessary to show your affection for either team by wearing a baseball cap. Not to be sexist or anything, but it just does not look right or good for that matter on a girl. Stick to the Derek Jeter, A-Rod or Manny Ramirez jersey. Like guys wearing pink or baby blue, it's cool once in a while, like if a girl puts on her boyfriend's cap for a little bit, but after a while it gets annoying.

Since we are on the topic of hats, what is the deal with trucker hats? This whole southern blue-collar look is getting out of hand. Pretty soon everyone will be sporting cowboy hats, tight blue jeans and will be strolling around campus in cowboy boots, even in Connecticut. After all, who doesn't want to be George W. Bush?

Next on the list has got to be those shirts with ridiculous things written or shown on them. We have all been turned into walking, talking advertisements for Abercrombie, Hollister and the like. If you really want to have a shirt that says "East Creek High School Hockey Team, Division 1, etc.," just go to Salvation Army across the street from the Big Y and get a second hand one from the local high school. It is more authentic and cheaper. As an added bonus, it is also pre-worn like Abercrombie's, except it is literally pre-worn.

Some of the skirts girls are wearing are also getting ridiculous. I have seen girls wearing faded jean, frilled and pleated skirts that look like the single leg of cut off jeans with the stray white threads hanging off of it and all. It just does not look good. Jean skirts in general do not look good.

Flip-flops, open sandals or slippers in the fall and winter are even more bizarre. Yesterday, I saw a girl strolling around campus in her flip-flops while it was raining and 50 degrees outside. Not only does it look strange, but it must hurt too. Put on some shoes.

I would like to elaborate on more of the shoddy, tacky clothing choices made by most of the UConn population, but there are so many of them that I could not possibly fit it on the page. Whether it is popped collars, skirts and snow boots, dark green or brown acid washed jeans, hats skewed to the side, white socks, one strap tank tops or back packs, multiple collars or perhaps the worst, ponchos - we UConn students have no fashion sense.

These are the fads UConn students are going to look back upon when all grown up and say, "What the heck was I thinking? "Also, like with our parents' platform shoes or tie-dye shirts, these fads will leave younger generations wondering, "What were those people smoking?" And when you are asked this question in the future, just look at that youngster and exclaim proudly and happily, "I went to UConn. We may have had no class or style, but hey, we certainly drank a lot of beer and had a good time."