As the school year begins, the campus continues to undergo significant updates. Along with major changes like the new athletic building and phone policy, the school has strongly revised the dress code.

This year, college sweatshirts are prohibited for all students, except for seniors, who may wear them only after Nov. 1, the Early Decision college application deadline.

“I’m a bit annoyed that we can’t wear our college sweatshirts right now,” senior Hoban Noyes said. “I’ve been wearing mine throughout high school, so it’s a bit of a change. But it’s not a huge deal since we can wear them again after the college deadline.”

In addition to the restriction on college sweatshirts, all shorts, pants, and skirts must now display the Gulliver logo and be either khaki or navy blue.

“There are very few actual changes to the dress code, but there’s a radical shift in enforcement,” Dean of Students Tyrone Sandaal said. “We had a lot of latitude given to students after the pandemic, and we struggled to return to the handbook’s original guidelines.”

Some students have noticed the new enforcement firsthand. 

“Last year, I wore the same shorts every day and never had any issues. But this year, it’s a different story—I’m getting in trouble now because they’re not khaki. It’s clear they are being much stricter about the dress code, and I’ve definitely noticed,” Jack Thornton said.

The school is also focused on enhancing campus security. All students and faculty must wear their school-issued ID badge at all times. By standardizing student attire and requiring ID badges, the administration aims to create a more identifiable environment. This approach helps distinguish between school members and outsiders, reinforcing the importance of maintaining a safe and orderly campus.

“We want to make sure, first and foremost, that we are secure. Part of the dress code is to easily identify who belongs and who doesn’t,” Sandaal said.