Button down shirts and high-top shoes are being considered as additions to the uniform. But members of the uniform revision committee started by Lauren ’10 are finding that they have to work to make sure students cannot find ways to take the new additions to the uniform to an extreme level.
The twelve- person committee, which has representatives from all grades and two faculty advisors, sponsored a town hall meeting on Oct. 27 so the student body could contribute ideas.
“The Town Hall had a good turn out from the Class of 2014 only. I suppose this class is the one that will be affected most, so it was great to see such a terrific number of them in my room,” said Sandra O’Connor, math instructor and uniform committee faculty advisor.
O’Connor said that most questions addressed concerns over the possible elimination of sweatpants from the uniform. Some committee members think that if students no longer had the option of wearing sweats under their skirts in the winter, a “nicer, sleeker look to the uniform [would] take over,” she said.
Claire ’14, who attended the meeting, said that she went to express her view that sweatpants should remain an option.
“I really wanted to keep sweatpants in the uniform because I was really excited to wear them,” Claire said.
Each week, the committee focuses on a different aspect of the uniform code, working from the feet up. Sweatpants have been a contentious issue, Lauren said. Some students feel that they look messy and unprofessional, while others crave wearing something comfortable and warm on a chilly day, Lauren said. She said the committee faces challenges.
“The problem is that we can’t trust all students to comply with the new uniform code, so our issue is mainly finding a way to limit the [number of extremes] students can take, by specifying the uniform code completely,” she said.
For instance, button down shirts might lead students to expose too much cleavage or high-top sneakers could be construed to include shoes that look like wrestling boots, she said.
The committee is also considering a company other than Dennis Uniforms, said Lauren.
The committee is presenting proposals to Head of School Barbara Wagner, Upper School Director Laura Hotchkiss, and Middle School Director Robert Bryan, who have “veto” power, on Nov. 21. If accepted, a new uniform would go into effect in the second semester.
Amy ’09 is one of the senior class representatives on the committee.
“The uniform committee is acknowledging the student’s desire for reasonable style and comfort. It’s making the uniform look tidier, more uniform, but also more wearable for students,” she said.
