Ongoing tension between administration and students rise as more students are demanding for the option to customize graduation caps.
June 9: the day that marks our senior’s transition from being a Bearcat to taking their first steps towards their real-life journey. Despite the infinite amount of possibilities each student can experience post-high school, the possibility of representing that at graduation is limited. However, unity is represented by the matching caps and gowns that resemble the Bearcats journey through high school together as a class.
As a way of celebrating the end of their long and eventful four years in school, many students believe they should be able to decorate their graduation caps. Perhaps many is an understatement, as over 1200 students signed a petition started by seniors Ne’jai Bryant and Jordan Armer in favor of graduation cap customization.
Driven by her brother, Zelbert Armer, previous attempts at starting a petition for the same cause, Armer is dedicated to fighting for change:
“My brother tried doing this petition last year, but it was too late into the school year. He didn’t really have anyone to back him up. And now I have a lot of friends and peers that I have to back me up and we’re hitting it really early on in the school year.”
Jordan Armer
Designer
here are a variety of reasons why the petition has received so much support from students on campus. Many say that the option to customize graduation caps allows students to express a part of themselves that they think reflects their years at Paso High. For example, displaying the college they have committed to is one of the main purposes for decorative caps. “I think that students should have the choice to decorate their caps or not. I think that the option should be open so seniors can express their interests on graduation day.” Says senior Bella Butler
“But it’s a way for us to be able to all celebrate together in a way of artistic ways, and be able to just kind of say thank you to teachers, family members, and those who inspired us to want to be able to graduate,” Bryant said.
There are many concerns surrounding the petition regarding the school’s perspective. “ I think it’s important that it is grounded in rational reason and thought. I’m not saying things shouldn’t change, lots of things should change, but we don’t just change the based on a whim like typically, we need to have a good, productive conversation about it.” said Principal Anthony Overton.
Overton believes that having the same caps and gowns during graduation is a symbol of unity and togetherness. Being united one final time, graduation should be a professional ceremony with the purpose of reflecting on highschool. Personal interests often conflict and clash and regulating what can and can’t be allowed on the caps can be a tricky decision.
Students may see alternative options when it comes to customization towards their graduation outfit eventually. Overton suggested that a white stole may be a possibility and the option to put on badges and pins to reflect classes and clubs throughout a student’s highschool career would make more sense with their policy. The badges would reflect the student’s highschool achievement while endorsing the student request for more diversity during graduation.
