This post from Andrew brought to my memory a heated debate that transpired in ‘99–should women at Baylor University wear jog bras on the Bear Trail minus a cover up? Yes, you just read that right. The controversy erupted–bringing in a wave of student responses, attempts at biblical exegesis to demonstrate the appropriateness/inappropriateness of job bra displays, and a whole host of fodder which the NoZe Brotherhood can mine for years to come.
- February 12, 1999: I Think This One Set it Off
- February 16, 1999 Letters to the Editor
- February 17, 1999 Letters to the Editor
- February 25, 1999 Editor’s Response: Senselessness of Debate Reveals Odd Priorities
Appropriate church attire is a more worthy discussion…I guess. At the very least, the presence of culturally deemed “inappropriate” dress gives us a chance to question our own degree of moral formation, and if we should follow Jesus’ advice to pluck out our own eyeballs on the occasion that we (men) lust after a scantily-clad female (Matt. 5:28-29).
I think you have to go back a little further to get the original letter to the editor that sparked the controversey. If I remember correctly, the original comment specifically said that the jog bra only wardrobe was bad because it “tempted our Christian brothers.”
Just my $0.02
Temptation article: http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13115
Feb. 23: http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13133
Feb. 24: http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13153
Feb. 26: http://www.baylor.edu/lariat/news.php?action=story&story=13182 (Close of debate)
Thanks Fitz. I’m archiving in order to help me remember this ridiculous episode in my life.
Oh, Ben. Thanks for that awesome blast from the past. Nearly ten years later, it gave me a great laugh here at work thinking of this “controversy.” Explaining to non-Baylor students is even funnier.