Following a flurry of criticism from students who were turned away from Sunday’s monthly brunch for being dressed “inappropriately,” UTM Director of Dining Services Chris Munkel said he will meet with Student Government leaders to find an amenable resolution to students’ complaints.

On the first Sunday of every month, Sodexho Dining Services hosts a brunch, opening the Skyhawk Cafeteria to community members for a higher quality dining experience, with a wider, more expensive menu and decorated serving area.

But Sunday, several students were turned away from the cafeteria for not meeting an unwritten dress code.

Jordan White, who said finances constrain him to eating in the cafeteria all the time, was one such student.

“I was walking in to swipe my card, and the person at the register said, ‘Hey, you need to dress a little nicer and change your shirt before you can eat,’” White said.

White wore khaki shorts and a printed T-shirt, which workers said was not “dressy” enough.

White said Sodexho workers also turned away his friend, who was wearing khaki shorts, a polo shirt and flip-flops, with several other students were denied admission to the cafeteria as well. Sodexho contracts with UTM to administer Dining Services.

“Just because they’re making extra money for these brunches and trying to make themselves look better in the community, doesn’t mean we have to dress differently,” White added. “It’s morning, it’s a college campus, it’s the weekend, it’s our home. This is the only place we have to eat.”

Dining Services is pandering to the community and trying to portray a false image in forcing students to dress differently for the monthly meal, White said.

Monthly Sunday brunches, which former Dining Services Director Mike Munkel established before his October 2005 death, have noticeably gained popularity both on campus and in the greater Martin area in recent years, but Sunday marks the first time students have complained en masse about a dress code.

However, Chris Munkel, current Dining Services director and son of Mike Munkel, said a dress code has been in place for at least six months.

Nonetheless, Munkel said he will meet with Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerald Ogg and Student Government Association President James Orr on Wednesday to evaluate ways to satisfy both students and Dining Services.

“We’re hopefully going to turn this into an issue we can resolve through the student body and Student Government,” Munkel said.

The rationale for a dress code, Munkel said, was to convey a sense of special ambience and elegance not typical to college dining services, but students may have lost that point.

There is no written procedure outlining what constitutes “acceptable” dress.

“We have people coming in from the outside [for the brunches], but [the dress code] is not only for them. It’s also for the students,” Munkel said.

Despite Dining Services’ attempts to set an upscale ambience, Munkel did say if students are upset, then the problem should be addressed.

“The No. 1 reason for me to even be here is the students, and it will always be that way,” Munkel said.