As the warmer weather rolls in, students at Communications High School (CHS) have started to dress accordingly. However, the newly enforced dress code prevents many from expressing their summer style.
The new dress code includes stricter rules on lengths of shorts and cropped tops. One way that this has been enforced is by a flyer that has been sent out to the students of CHS.
CHS Principal Emily Bonilla believes that schools should have a boundary as it is crucial to understand when exposed to professional environments.
“When you get into workplaces, there are places where you have to have some type of uniform, there is a professional standard,” Bonilla said. “I think it is important to understand that there had to be at least some structure in [the dress code] because it is school.”
To many students at CHS, including Junior Christie DeNicola of Tinton Falls, fashion is an important way of representing themselves, and with the newly enforced dress code, they feel that has been limited.
“I think that clothing is one of the main ways to express myself,” DeNicola said. “I don’t think putting limits on that is going to do anything besides harm the inner spirit of the students.”
As this is Bonilla’s first year at the school, many students have seen a change in this dress code compared to previous years. Many students feel that with the previous principal of CHS, there was a lot less enforcement during the spring months because there have never been fliers sent out, or corrections throughout the halls.
Senior Eliza Madore of Atlantic Highlands thinks that not only has there been a shift in the enforcement, but also to who the rules are targeted against.
“I’ve seen a reported change in the dress code, like in the flyer [Mrs. Bonilla] made, but I feel like people aren’t following it and it’s only being enforced on people with a specific body type,” Madore said. “A low cut top is often only commented on or deemed as inappropriate when it’s worn by someone with a larger chest. At the end of the day, everyone should be held to the same standards.”
However, Bonilla states that she actually hasn’t made a change and that the rules were in place all along. Despite the backlash on these new enforcements, Bonilla acknowledges that she has been trying to make CHS a place where students are treated fairly.
“I didn’t make any changes to the dress code, if you read the student handbook it has much stricter rules,” Bonilla said. “I’m just trying to be consistent because there are certain standards as far as boys, girls and non-binary students, but [rules against] hats, slides and spaghetti straps are all in the handbook,” Bonilla said “I didn’t create any rules, I’m just usually giving people careful reminders.”
