Community Corner

Should Cupertino Graduates Have a Dress Code?

An Alabama graduate fined for wearing a feather in her cap has seniors across the country thinking twice about their commencement plans.

Graduation day is supposed to be a distinguishing moment — a passage into adulthood.

So on the day that seniors are given their high school diplomas, a learner's permit into the real world, should they be told what they can and cannot wear?

Chelsey Ramer, a student in Alabama, is being fined $1,000 and having her diploma witheld because she chose to wear an eagle feather on her graduation cap in recognition of her Native American heritage. According to the Huffington Post, her private school's graduation dress code stated students could not wear “extraneous items during graduation exercises unless approved by the administration."

Compared to some graduation ceremonies where caps are adorned with anything from action figures to puffy paints, a feather seems rather tame.

Ramer was aware of the rule and potential fine, but chose to wear the feather anyway and called the punishment "discrimination."

Cupertino students will be graduating this week with Cupertino and Homestead finishing June 6 and Lynbrook and Monta Vista on June 7. 

Do you think students should stick to the plain, unadorned cap and gown? Or should free decoration be allowed? Did you decorate your cap and gown? Tell us in the comments!


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