A new year has brought many changes, notably the Huss Center for the Performing Arts, and another new addition to St. Paul Academy and Summit School’s Upper School is the new dress code. Upper School Council has been working for the past two years on finalizing this integral part of student life, and with student input, administrative help, and USC’s own opinion’s, a revised dress code has been published.

The dress code was revised because “the old version was too gendered. It didn’t feel safe and inclusive for all students, so we addressed that,” USC Vice-President Moira McCarthy said. The new wording cuts out all remarks guided towards a specific gender and makes the rules easier to understand.

“The language is way better. It’s less restricting,” junior David Santos said.

The main goal of the dress code is to “maintain a standard appropriate for a school environment that satisfies in a respectful way the needs of people from different cultures and generations,” the new dress code states. Dean of Students Max Delgado and US Principal Chris Hughes have the final say over whether or not something is appropriate, but they will take any “questions the student might have [about the dress code],” the revised version says.

“I don’t have to worry about what I’m wearing when I get dressed in the morning,” sophomore Sophia Rose said. “I like the freedom it gives me to express myself,” Rose added.

The complete version of the dress code can be located at the back of this year’s US Student Planner. USC is also holding an assembly to address the new dress code on Fri. Sept. 11. “I’m excited to hear more about it because I’m happy it’s been changed to benefit the students,” senior Lexi Hilton said.