The SMU chapter of Sigma Chi officially outlawed cargo shorts last week in their fraternity’s bylaws by a humorous, but unanimous, vote. (MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus)
One SMU fraternity has decided to take a sartorial stance against an article of clothing that has been at the center of a national fashion debate – cargo shorts.
The garment typically made of khaki material with a plethora of pockets has acquired a recent stigma of being “un-cool.”
But for members of the Sigma Chi fraternity at SMU the relaxed casual look became enough of an issue that members decided to speak up against the suspect shorts.
“We were voting in a chapter meeting to make an amendment to a bylaw and out of no where someone stood up and brought up that we should ban cargo shorts,” Kyle McGrory, president of the SMU chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity, said.
The cargo short controversy went to the chopping block at the Sigma Chi house last week and the vote to forbid the fashion statement in the fraternity passed.
“It was the first time in our chapter that any motion had been unanimously passed since I was here,” McGrory, a senior who has been active in the fraternity for the past three years, said.
Many students find the recent amendment humorous but admit the cargo short look is not a good one.
“It’s kind of ridiculous, but it’s funny,” junior Danielle Therson said.
“I haven’t worn those since I was in high school,’ junior Sam Aronowitz said.
SMU senior Rachael Mackin dated a Sigma Chi who wore cargo shorts every day.
“I applaud Sigma Chi for taking the initiative to ban cargo shorts and I think the rest of the university should follow suit,” Mackin said. “Next stop should be Hawaiian shorts and those zip-off pants, the kind that can become shorts with a simple zip.”
Other students say they find no shame in wearing the look and can’t see what all the fashion fuss is about.
“I like the pockets,” law student Osei Bokye said. He proudly admits his go-to outfit consists of cargo shorts and flip-flops. “I just drop my phone and wallet in there and it’s easy to access.”
Junior Chris White says he has heard the anti-cargo comments but insists pulling off cargo shorts is all in the styling.
“Not all cargo pants are lame,” White said. “You just have to know how to dress to make them look good.”
White, who is not affiliated with Sigma Chi, has a handful of tips for making cargos cool.
- Don’t wear long, bunched-up white socks. That’s tacky.
- Generally, pants are a no — stick to shorts.
- The bottom of the shorts should end below the knee cap. You don’t want to look like you’re wearing capris.
