According to Assistant Principal Jim Melia, a committee will soon be established to address the issues with the dress code.

“It’s going to have three parents, three teachers, six students and myself,” he said. “I’ll be leading the committee. We’re going to take a look at our current dress code and leave things that are common sense. Then we’re going to look at and discuss what members think can be interpreted in different ways.”

Freshman Callia Karas said a dress code committee isn’t necessary.

“I think that [dress code] is a bigger problem at other schools,” she said. “They really don’t need to enforce it much here.”

Eighth-grader Deja D. disagrees.

“Yes, a dress code committee is very much needed,” she said. “A lot of girls are very exposed, even with the current dress code.”

Melia realizes the task of finding clothes that don’t violate any part of the dress code can be challenging.

“The fashion industry dictates what [students] buy,” he said. “You have to keep in mind the various styles and how it’s difficult to buy certain clothes. That’s why we put some parents of female students on the committee, so when they go shopping, they see what kinds of styles there are. Ninety-nine percent of dress code violations are females, so that’s why the only males in the committee are myself and [Gregory] Eller.”

Melia said the dress code committee has some goals in mind.

“We hope to accomplish a better definition for certain things so that everybody’s on the same page,” he said.

Melia conceded that some parts of the dress code are not needed. He uses the example of the rule regarding flips flops. According to the dress code, shoes with one strap between the toes must be at least one inch thick.

“The whole thing with the shoes came about when flip flops weren’t allowed at all,” Melia said. “I can’t change the dress code without a committee. Not only do we have to follow our dress code, but we have to follow the district’s dress code too.”

By Autumn Scheer