My family stares at my senior portrait with disappointment barely disguised on their faces. They grimace as they peer closely at the photos, and my reaction mirrors theirs almost exactly. I feel as though I should be insulted by my family’s distaste, but even my brightest smile cannot distract from the tacky purple gown. I glance over at my grandma’s senior portrait, her black drape framing her shoulders and her hair perfectly curled. Although the picture is in black and white, you can tell that she was really beautiful. My mom’s picture follows the same pattern, her black drape matching the classic image of my grandmother’s.
However, my pictures do not follow the same elegant theme. The shiny purple cloth starkly contrasts the classical outline and style of the simple drape. Even though many of us took pictures with a drape or a tux, they will not appear in the yearbook. For the class of 2020, it was decided by the PHS and MHS administrations that everyone would wear the same purple graduation gown.
However, I would have liked to make that choice for myself. I do realize that as a part of the LCAP and the “All Means All” initiative in PUSD, the elimination of the drapes and tuxes could be seen as a more inclusive “choice”. Instead, the lack of choice that we now have mocks the idea of inclusivity.
I am not advocating for returning only to the drapes and tuxes. I recognize the inclusivity that the graduation gown could provide, but only if students are able to make that choice for themselves. Since I am now forced to choose a portrait with a gown, I feel constrained and disappointed by the school’s decision.
According to an email sent by the PHS administration, “PHS and MHS are committed to aligning their practices with the PUSD vision of “All Means All” outlined in the District’s Local Control Accountability Plan. In a concerted effort to promote educational equity and inclusion so that all students will feel physically safe, emotionally cared for, and academically and socially included in their school environment, senior portraits appearing in the yearbook will now be taken in purple graduation gowns.”
According to a survey of 106 seniors at PHS, 90.6 percent of students said that their preferred attire for their senior portrait is not the graduation gown. In addition, only 24.5 percent of students said that they wanted to see everyone in the same attire, although not necessarily the graduation gown, compared to the remaining 76 percent who preferred having different choices or were unsure of whether they wanted conformity. Finally, 84 percent of students felt that they did not have the means to express their opinion about the change to the gowns.
“The main argument that has spread among students is that some kids may not want to pick between either a tuxedo or dress,” senior James Manolis said. “However, having everyone wear the same purple gown without an alternative option seems to force conformity all the same.”
I support the “All Means All” initiative that inspired this change. But to truly accommodate everyone, you cannot eliminate our choice. Makeup days for senior portraits are on Oct. 2 and 3, which would provide the perfect opportunity for seniors to retake their pictures if they wish to change which portrait to submit to the yearbook. Give every student the right to choose for themselves: a drape, a tux, a gown, or an outfit of their choice. We can pride ourselves on both tradition and inclusivity, but the gowns do not fulfill either of those criteria. Let us express ourselves so that we don’t all look back at the yearbook and wonder why all our personality and flair got left behind.
