Students want to express themselves at dances

Dakota Motley
Business Manager

unnamed — Students dance at Winter Formal 2020. The dance took place on Jan. 25, in Roberts Gym. Photo by Lydia Urice

Students have expressed their dislike for the school’s current dress code for formal events, stating that they “are overly complicated” or that “there is still room to allow acceptance.”

“Dress and grooming are, to a large extent, determined by individual students and their parents/guardians. However, when faculty members or administrators deem that a student’s manner of dress is not conducive to an educational environment that prepares students for success in various settings in the community, they will hold a private conference with the student and counsel him/her regarding her/his attire.” This is from page 35 in the student handbook.

In the beginning of this school year, the students, materially female/female presenting, noticed that they were getting dress-coded for wearing crop tops, which show their midriff. They took it upon themselves to find a way to get that rule in the handbook changed.

“I think less so the dress code doesn’t allow people to express themselves. It’s the people around in the school cause you know not being able to show your midriff was a big issue for a while, and I know some people still get dress coded and not more so about what they’re wearing but who they are, and I’ve seen it happen just to the queer people around me,” junior Ange Lopolito said.

When it comes time for dress shopping and looking for an outfit for dances, female presenting people spend hours looking for the “perfect” one. “I think instead of just saying, ‘Suits and dresses,’ it can say like formal wear so people who don’t want to like wear considered the ‘normal’ formal wear can like dress how they want without feeling pressured to wear either a dress or a suit,” senior Lily Johnston said.

About advice for others during formal outfit shopping, senior Julia Burford said, “Don’t be afraid of what you’re wearing. Just surround yourself with people who like you for who you are and don’t give a f*** about what you’re wearing and also don’t be afraid to fight back to people who are judging you.”