On Friday, Sept. 7, the seniors dressed up in togas as a spirit day for the first home football game. However, this year, there was more debate surrounding what was considered appropriate in terms of what the togas, especially boys’ togas could reveal at school. 

As students walked into the school on Friday morning, many of the boys were dress-coded and told to put their own shirt on or go downstairs to the basement and get a free shirt to put on. This was because many boys’ chests were fully out, partially out or they didn’t have a shirt underneath their togas. School officials cited hygiene concerns and potential distractions during class time as reasons for requiring t-shirts.  

The togas have been a long held tradition every senior looks forward to. Students use bed sheets, pillow cases or t-shirts to create their togas and accessorize them with gold jewelry and tassels. 

The thing that makes the togas a little different from most themes for football games is that students wear the togas to school instead of just to the game. This gets all the students excited for the game and creates high spirits among the football players.

But with the change of dress-coding this year, some boys were caught off guard.

“I actually got dress-coded and I was fully covered,” said a senior boy who wished to remain anonymous. “I’m just a little confused as to why I got dress-coded.”

Central staff were informed that they had to dress code students who weren’t wearing proper clothing. 

“There was an email sent to staff [especially teachers] to ask for additional support, and if [the students] didn’t have proper clothing we were going to give out shirts for no cost to students,” said Christopher Cirrincione, assistant principal.

Cirrincione explained that the email was sent on Friday when not enough coverage by the togas became an issue.   

Outrage poured in among the boys in the senior class throughout the day as more boys were being sent down to go put shirts on.

“No matter what the supposed attire is, it needs to be appropriate for a school learning environment and sanitary as well,” said Bill Walsh, principal. 

Prior to Friday, it was well established that seniors could wear their togas to school and they must be appropriate; however, some students said they did not clearly understand the expectations. In years past, students have not been set down to put on shirts underneath their togas.

Going forward, Walsh said he hopes to continue school spirit, but will make dress code expectations clearer in the future.