Female students advocate for an updated dress code

Following recent controversy over the dress code, seniors Lana Duval and Abi Livingston, with the support of other students, are attempting to make changes to the dress code already in place in the district by creating a petition and sharing their ideas with school staff.  

“I think as our society progresses,” Livingston said, “our school should progress with it.”

After hearing students’ stories and running into her own problems with the dress code, Duval started a petition on change.org and talked with the principal about changes that she believes need to be made. 

“Hall monitors and teachers have sometimes been doing it rudely,” Duval said. “I was walking in the hall during passing period when my shirt was showing a sliver of my stomach, and two teachers came up to me and one said ‘You’re cutting that close’ and the other teacher just laughed and agreed, and it was the most uncomfortable I’ve ever felt at school.” 

Other students, like junior Tommie Carnahan, have gone through similar situations where they felt like the dress code hurt them more than it helped.

“I was dress-coded the second Monday of school, and it made me late to my class. I missed part of an activity,” Carnahan said. “I know they say that they enforce it for better education, but in my experience; it’s actually taken away from my education.”

Duval’s petition and the new version of the dress code she has presented to principal Dr. Griep seeks to change policies involving pajamas, hats, bra straps, and more.

“I’m just getting rid of stupid little stuff,” Duval said, “Then I’m going to try and make bigger changes.” 

Aterra Lowe, a house principal, does not have a say in the dress code, but acknowledges that it’s in place for a reason. 

“It’s discipline,” Lowe said. “It’s a procedure where your focus is not on appearance and outfits.”

According to Lowe, the school’s staff and administration has no say in the district’s dress code policy.

“That’s not a decision we can make in the building,” Lowe said, “but she (Duval) has every right to talk to the school board if that’s what she feels needs to be done for changes.”