Rutgers apologizes to students booted from job fair for violating dress code

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (UPI) -- Rutgers University on Friday apologized to students who were turned away from a career fair for dress code violations, including blue suits and brown shoes.

Business School Dean Lei Lei issued a written apology after an estimated 40 students were turned away from a Feb. 10 job fair for violating the event's unusually strict dress code.

Students reported being booted from the event for dress code violations including wearing blue suits, light gray suits, brown shows, or suede shoes.

Information circulated prior to the job fair stipulated male students must wear black or brown suits, while a flier for last year's event said men would be required to wear a "dark, conservative suit."

Sophomore Kevin Chen said he was turned away for showing up in a dark navy blue suit, though he was allowed to wear the same suit to last year's fair. He said he had seen the new flier, but assumed his suit would be acceptable because it was allowed last year.

"I know at [Rutgers Business School] forums they tell us that navy suits are more professional than gray. [On Friday] a police officer stopped me and said my suit was too light. They directed me to see [Rutgers Business School Director Eugene Gentile]," Chen told The Daily Targum, Rutgers' student newspaper. He told me I had a nice suit that was too light. He said that in the real world, the suit was fine, but in this world, it was too [light].

"I am not angry about being turned away ... but to be turned away due to my fashion sense is absurd," Chen told the paper. I didn't go to show off my style, I went to show my skills.

Lei issued an apology after students circulated on online petition calling on the New Brunswick, N.J., school to apologize and revise the dress code for future events.

"We take great pride in our students, both academically and professionally," Lei wrote. We regret that the actions at last week's career fair adversely affected some of our students and cast a shadow over the success we have achieved in helping our students secure more meaningful internships and jobs. Our career management process is not perfect, and we look forward to working with our recruiters and students to further improve our practices, including the dress code guidelines.