The shape of the gown differs according to institution, degree, and, until recently, social class. Traditionally, this would have been for ease of persecution, but this is largely redundant now. Most of the time, candidates for the post of persecutee are now spotted by more subtle social signs, as opposed to a band of velvet on their clothes being 1.75 in. wide instead of 1.5 in. This is not the case universally, however. Students of the Open University still have distinctive gowns for this very purpose, as do Scottish students (see below).