It’s approaching the cold season which means lots of hot chocolate, snowy weather, and students out of dress code. Due to the harsh conditions in weather, many students find it reasonable to wear coats, hoodies, and jackets to school as a method of combatting potential illnesses like the cold, but teachers and administration disagree. Administration and staff argue that wearing coats throughout the school day can present distractions, hide disallowed items, and oppose the policy of being in dress code.

Mr. Kopycinski, a Theology teacher, voiced his opinion concerning the policy of coldcoats. He said,  “My opinion is… we can layer. There are places for other items in the store. It is important that we can recognize all of our students as students, in case something awful transpires.”

Despite the enforcement of strictly following dress code, students are actively expressing disapproval towards the rule set in place. Following the beginning of classes, many students carry their coats wearing them throughout the school day defying the policy. An anonymous junior expressed their disagreement with the overall policy when they revealed that the policy restricting Marian outwear creates potential health problems and illnesses, which may drastically affect school attendance. 

Many other students express the extremity of temperatures—such as temperatures below 30 degrees—as a reason for defying the policy. Even some teachers disagree with the policy, actively disregarding it, allowing students to wear coats in certain situations.

The conversation over coats in winter remains a heated debate, and these conversations potentially can lead to a change in our policy. Whether you are for or against  the current dress code policy that prohibits coats, hoodies, and jackets, we must all be vocal about this issue that we as a student body care so much about.