A display of the chapel dress uniform.
The uniform policy is sparking mixed opinions. While many students are fine with the current policy and see it as a normal part of school life, some students voice frustration over the guidelines and believe that they are overly strict. The Dean of Students Terar Everhart says the rules are essential to promote unity and fairness, and have actually been relaxed over the past years. Some students are against the uniform policy and share their opinions on why they believe the policy is too restrictive and should be changed.
“I do not like wearing uniforms because I think wearing uniforms makes us all one person, and being able to wear our own clothes and show our own fashion helps us create our own identity,” junior Cameron Edwards said. “I like Tiger Days because I get to wear my own clothes and express my own style.”
A faculty member recalls how the uniform policy has adapted and relaxed over his past 18 years on staff.
“We had no earrings for boys for a long time. No students could wear hoodies or black jackets. In fact, there was one jacket and one sweatshirt that all students could wear,” Brant Evans said. “And now you can wear any hoodie as long as it is a Darlington hoodie that comes from the bookstore or from a team. We also added leggings as an added option for girls to stay warm in the winter.”
Some students think that the dress code is good for the community and prefer it over free dress every day.
“I like uniforms because it is a certain standard for everyone, and they make us look put together. The uniform shorts, pants, and shorts are all comfortable to wear and breathable,” junior Alberto Aguilar said. “It also keeps you from having to worry about what to wear to school every day in the morning.”
Evans explains how the modern dress code policy was created in 2004 and how it has progressed since.
“Students were a part of a committee that chose to implement a uniform policy,” Evans said. “Before the policy change, boys had to wear khaki pants every day, and tennis shoes were not allowed to be worn to school. Both boys and girls had to wear dress shoes every day. The uniform policy was created to avoid ‘trying to keep up with the Joneses’ and have a more unified student body.”