Pilot dress code revision steps toward fairer guidelines

Students+take+advantage+of+new+dress+code+allowance+of+hats+before+first+period.+Restrictions+have+been+reduced+due+to+popular+opinion%2C+although+hoods+remain+banned+from+school.

Students take advantage of new dress code allowance of hats before first period. Restrictions have been reduced due to popular opinion, although hoods remain banned from school.

Anthony Steffens, Ranger Review Reporter

The Lewis-Palmer Dress Code Committee has amended the dress code after deliberating over winter break to better represent student interests based on the student survey before winter break.

Alyssa Murphy 12 has been unofficially dress coded multiple times and sees revision as a sign of positive change.

“I think the changes are great. I had lots of friends who worked to create the new dress code and they did a good job of making everything more overarching,” Murphy said. “Giving specific measurements is important because the previous dress code was full of holes about how low can your shirt be before you are told to go home.”

Murphy believes that the previous code was prone to discriminatory execution based on both gender and body type.

“My best friend and I own the same shirt and we both wore it within the same week but I was dress-coded for wearing the same shirt as her. There is a double standard of treating people differently based on their body type,” Murphy said. “There’s also a discrepancy where dress guidelines targeted women or feminine presenting people. There was nothing that specifically targeted men because the hat policy affected everyone while feminine clothing was the main focus of restriction.”

A recent change in the new dress code gives students the ability to wear hats and remove them only at teacher discretion. Murphy sees both potential benefits and drawbacks to this new policy.

“I like that the teachers have the option of whether they’ll allow hats. It will help solidify exactly what’s false within the guidelines and stop certain teachers dress-coding more than others,” Murphy said. “However, it might just lead to taking your hat on and off all day. I also still see people wearing hoods all the time, despite being prohibited by the dress code.”

An important point of emphasis is to allow students to express themselves to create a more healthy and creative school environment.

“I really like fashion, so I like new guidelines because they adhere to newer fashion trends. I do think professionalism rules are justified despite changing frequently with our society and our culture,” Murphy said. “It’s important to keep adhering to the changes in our environment.”