The short and sweet version of the dress code policy sent to all teachers via assistant principal Steve Schuhmann started off by stating that “There is a close relationship between high standards of dignity and pride and proper grooming which all contribute to an appropriate learning environment.”

 “People look at these things every few years,” Schuhmannn said. “They accept certain things, times change, dress codes change.”

There is no category for hairstyles or hair color. Under “Eyewear and Accessories,” it says any piercings that “pose as a safety concern or are distracting,” for example a “chain from nose piercing to ear,” are prohibited. This implies that most face piercings aren’t against dress code. This part of the new policy is very different from last year’s; unnatural hair colors and all face piercings were strictly forbidden.

Does this mean that McNeil’s “high standards of dignity and pride” have lowered? Is dyed hair now considered “proper grooming” when it wasn’t before?

“I think they got tired of telling students that they [couldn’t] have piercings or unnatural hair color,” Brittany Murphy, a freshman with hot pink hair, said.

“I feel very happy to be able to dye my hair any color because I feel like I can express my personality with my hair color,” Murphy said. She was even excited about the fact that face piercings are allowed. “I do not have any piercings at the moment, but I might soon.”

“Kids used to have to cover [piercings] up with band-aids,” Schuhmann said. “Things are a lot different, here, and now. We want students to wear what makes them feel more comfortable.”

Schuhmann thinks that people tend to work better when they feel good about their appearance.

“While clothes are a form of expression, so is haircolor,” junior Madeleine Sisco said. “It helps me stand out from others and create my own identity.”

Some students feel passionate towards their appearance. They like to have the freedom to alter their natural appearance to better suit their personality.

Schuhmann said that there are two big questions the administration asks now to determine if something is appropriate for school. “Is it a distraction or safety issue?” He said they try to keep it fair because “the last thing we want to do is dress code someone, and now they’re out of class.” Schuhmann agrees that sometimes the act of dress coding somebody is more distracting than what they’re being dress coded for.

“I kind of like it this year,” Schuhmann said. “When you prohibit something, people do it more.”

According to Schuhmann, fewer students seem to be pushing the boundaries now that the rules have become more lenient. He explained that parents and community members who heavily influence things like dress codes.

“If anyone feels that strongly about it, they have the power to change something,” Schuhmann said. “There has to be an overwriting reason.”