By Jace Stanley
STARKVILLE, Miss. (Take 30 News)---One MSU student has earned a reputation around campus for his unusual style. Senior Billy Jarrell is known around campus as the man in overalls and no shoes. Students and faculty may have seen Jarrell before and wondered why is he barefoot?
Jarrell spoke on his behalf
“Most people kind of walk out their door and think, well, I ought to put my shoes on before I go, but that just never occurs to me,” Jarrell said.
“Due to that great Mississippi State infrastructure building a bunch of crooked things, how am I ain't not gonna jump in any of these puddles I don't know,” Jarrell Said.
“On my way to class one day my older brother who happened to be a student here at the time he said hey you know you don't have to wear shoes to class, and, and that must have been about a week into school and, and when he told me that I was so happy to take them right back off again,” Jarrell said.
Although Jarrell has his own style is he in violation of any rules or dress codes for MSU?
When questioned about MSU's dress policy Dr. Regina Hyatt, the Vice President for student affairs at MSU issued a statement which read, “Yes, we do have a student who does this. He ran for homecoming court this past year. We don't have any policy I am aware of that requires students to wear shoes to classes. The only situation I can think of where specific attire is required is in laboratories where shoes and other protective clothing would be required. There may be other limitations regarding health & safety concerns that I am not immediately thinking of.”
Jarrell mentioned that he will continue to travel barefoot and jump in as many puddles as he can.
“I'm happy either to start a conversation or to pass people on with a smile and even if somebody thinks it's goofy it's just good to, to see them laugh, and if they think I'm silly it makes no difference to me,” Jarrell said.