With the new school year weeks in and in action, dress code is once again a controversial subject at La Salle, with many varying opinions conveying that it is either too strict or not a problem at all.

To understand the full argument based around dress code it is necessary to be aware the rules that are currently in place. The official rules are: shorts, skirts, and dresses must be to the top of the knee, pants/shorts must have a zipper and a pocket, no sweatpants, no unnatural hair coloring, no hats, no ripped pants, and, most complained about, shirt neckline must be up to the collarbone and cover student’s shoulders.

Many people who agree with these guidelines say that it makes students look much more professional, which is a skill we will need later in life; however, others argue that although we do need to look professional, that is possible to do without such strict guidelines.

“I think it’s ok, but I think we should be able to wear sweatpants and shirts that don’t go all the way up to the collarbone, but it is better than a uniform.” Sophomore Julliana Spraug says.

“I do like the fact that we can wear casual things like jeans and tee-shirts, said President for the sophomore class Stella Tompkins. “I don’t like the collarbone, [so] I think it could be maybe like a couple of fingers from there, I think it’s hard to shop definitely, so that could frustrate a lot of people.”

Although many students may feel that La Salle’s dress code is fairly extreme, it is actually fairly normal when compared to the dress code at other area high schools. Jesuit High School’s official dress code states that there is to be no exposed cleavage, no messages about sex, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, racism, or gangs, no leather, no hats, no ‘extreme’ hair, shirts must have sleeves, no stomach or back shall be shown, pants must have pockets and be to ankles, no sagging of pants, boys must wear belts, and shorts, skirts, and dresses must go to the knee. Although the most complained about rule is different, no cleavage instead of up to the collarbone, there are also rules that when compared to LaSalle are worse.

Another extremely controversial issue regarding LaSalle’s dress code is comparing both boy’s and girl’s dress codes to one another. Last year a sign was printed by a female student and posted around the halls stating that the current dress code is teaching boys to objectify girls and instead of placing rules upon girls in which allow boys to treat women as objects. There were many varying opinions regarding this statement, all of which contain valid points.

“I think that guys don’t really have a dress code at all, but girls do” said junior Regan McCabe.

“I think girls shouldn’t be limited on what they can wear…and I think boys should be able to wear sweatpants because why not,” sophomore Chris Farrow explains. “It’d be kinda bad if you tried to make [the dress code] the exact same for everybody.”