On August 19, 2026, there was something new about Marian Catholic. It is not the newly replenished walls found throughout the building, or the new staff members, or the plethora of incoming freshmen, it is the dress code. In other words, the new policy implemented requires students to wear only khaki-colored pants.
Marian Catholic’s uniform ranges from a variety of pullovers, sweatshirts, and polo shirts. From Monday through Thursday, students are required to wear polo shirts. Pullovers and crewnecks are permitted provided they are worn over a polo shirt. Previously, last year, the dress code included black pants and khaki pants. But, with the new implementation of requiring only khaki pants, there is a new shift in dress code policy.
For the past few years at Marian Catholic, dress code compliance has been a prevalent issue. Whether it was students wearing hoodies or sweatpants during school hours, dress code violations have been a long-standing point of contention amongst administration and faculty. But the ban on black pants has prompted controversy amongst the student body, administration, and staff with many concerns related to the formation and implementation of the new policy. Many students have contested the new policy detailing issues about potential uniform costs. More specifically, female students have expressed their concerns about how to manage menstrual leaks during school hours as stains can be visible on light-colored fabric. In contrast, there have been students who have agreed that the policy may be required to further enforce the dress code policy efficiently.
Mya Davis, Student Council Treasurer, provides her insight on the new policy, “I think it is a little over the top; it’s doing way too much. I feel like the whole school shouldn’t be punished for things only a few people do on a consistent basis. The deans also should have more of an eye on violations.”
Although senior Daniel Becerra disagrees with the overall decision, he acknowledges the repeated dress code violations that contributed to it: “While I disliked the ban because I enjoyed wearing black pants, many people abused the rule,” Daniel said. “Several students wore black jeans or leggings which was against rules and it happened so many times that the school had a reasonable reason to get rid of the privilege. ”
An anonymous student reveals her concern for the costs of khaki pants, while adding that khaki pants are an inconvenience for female students during their menstrual cycle. She briefly notes, “To me personally, I don’t write the dress code; it was kind of irritating. I didn’t have black pants; it wasn’t convenient for me to have khaki pants during that time of month. It was hard to conceal an accident.”
When asked about these concerns, Dr. Zampillo explained he brought these concerns from students to his Principal Leadership group, which included female teachers and other building personnel. The decision to ban black pants largely reflected past frustrations with an inability for faculty to properly enforce the dress code. So many students found ways to violate the black pants rule that teachers largely gave up on attempting to enforce the rule.
Dr Zampillo went on to describe how a clothing company called, Land’s End was used to acquire black pants with the Marian logo on them. A few years ago, this collaboration with Land’s End enabled black pants to become an option within the dress code. If a student wore black pants with a Marian logo on it, they were able to wear black pants during school hours. However, about two to three years ago, Marian Catholic ended their relationship with Land’s End, as there was only one type of size offered. However, black pants remained an option for students, so long as the Marian logo was on there.
During the course of a conversation with the Spartan Star, Dr. Zampillo highlighted two primary reasons for the decision to implement this new policy. First, given the lack of khaki jeans available in store and online, students would be less likely to find ways to abuse the broader no-jeans school policy. Additionally, Dr. Zampillo cited greater uniformity in student appearance if all students are in the same color pants which has many social and community building benefits.
Other faculty and staff also expressed a range of views on the new policy, with many staff members noting that black pants can be costly and also inconvenient for students, especially pertaining to concerns related to girls’ menstrual cycles. However, there have also been a number of staff members who felt enforcing a proper black pants policy would prove too difficult.
An anonymous staff member offered their thoughts, “I assume that the reason black pants were eliminated from the dress code was because girls, in particular, wore yoga pants, which are very close-fitting. I’m assuming they wanted more “modest” pants. I don’t know if it’s successful. It’s also unfortunate for a female student if her period comes at the wrong time.”
School administration repeatedly stresses to the Spartan Star that this new policy reflected an inclusive process. The proposed changes in the dress code were discussed with the Principal Student Advisor Council prior to any final decisions being made. This Council consisted of a diverse range of students who brought a diverse range of perspectives on these issues to the table. However, many students who were not directly involved in that process have since expressed many concerns and questions of their own regarding these new policies.
Ms. Lamb, another high ranking administrator within the building, offered further insight into the administration’s decision by providing further insight on the process by which the decision was made. She talked about how the dress code was reviewed by a committee of students and staff. It was commonly brought up that the black pants were easier to find in the form of leggings versus khaki pants. Ms. Lamb discussed how (admin) brought up in these discussions both the fit of black pants as well as a desire to prevent students from wearing jeans.
Some see a privilege abused, others see a privilege taken away, and some explore further beyond the lines of whether the ban addresses the underlying issue of adding on even more concerns. The administration’s review of the dress code provides a look into the concerns that prompted the decision from repeated violations to questions of fit and accessibility. However, while the reasoning behind the ban may seem straightforward, questions still remain about removing black pants addresses such concerns. As the policy stands, there are still many ongoing discussions on unresolved dress code related issues.