Some Saugus students balk as officials lay out dress code for dance

SAUGUS – Saugus High School senior Melissa McCarthy called the school?s prom dress code “dumb” Tuesday, after school officials posted a new slideshow on its website outlining “acceptable” and “unacceptable” dresses.?It?s too strict,” said McCarthy after school got out Tuesday. “My mom was freaking out about my dress but (Assistant Principal Jodi) Remington said it was fine. They?re going a little far with it all. If their parents let them out of the house, then they (students) should be able to wear it.”Click to view a PDF of the dress code slideshowSaugus High School students expressed mixed feelings Tuesday about both the dress code and the new slideshow. Some considered the strict guidelines a nuisance, while others said they had no problem with them.Bianca Faysal, 16, said she?s seen a lot worse at other schools, but acknowledged she doesn?t have a problem with the school?s guidelines. Nunziante Leo, a senior, said it should be left up to the students, while fellow senior Hannah LoPresti said she was OK with the dress code, noting that all schools have them.?I don?t really see a problem,” said LoPresti. “I don?t understand why ours is so hyped up. When I heard about it I couldn?t believe it was on the news.”The dress code slideshow states girls can?t show any cleavage or exposed midriffs.The dress code slideshow also lists numerous specific dress code requirements for both boys and girls such as:? Dresses should not have slits or cuts that reach higher than the student?s fingertips when placed at their side;u Dresses should not have holes or cuts in the midriff or sides;u Dresses should not have deep lower back cuts;u Tuxedo or suit jackets may be taken off during the night. A shirt must be worn at all times andu Ties and shoes must be worn. Sneakers are not acceptable.High school principal Joe Diorio said the dress code is nothing new, but noted it?s the first time he?s put it into a slideshow and put it on the school website after seeing it on a morning TV show recently.?People always ask, ?What are the do?s and don?ts,?” said Diorio. “It was on the Today Show last Saturday ? that?s where I got the PowerPoint from. It?s no secret. It?s in our handbook. There are questions so we wanted to make sure we were clear on the questions. If you look at our handbook online, it?s the exact same thing.”Diorio said there has been “very few” dress code issues at previous proms and after presenting the slideshow to seniors last week, he said they had no problem with it.?I put something together and I thought this was the best thing ?” said Diorio. “I showed it to the senior class a week ago today, and they were fine and no one had any problems. We just wanted some concrete ideas. I don?t know why everyone?s going so nutty. I can?t figure it out.”Student Council president Olivia Singer, however, thinks the slideshow is “over the top” and said students should have been told about the dress code at the beginning of the year because some girls like to buy their dresses early.?I don?t know why they?re starting this now,” said Singer. “I think it?s kind of ridiculous. I?ve been to two senior proms and a junior prom in the past four years, and I?ve never seen anything that inappropriate. If your parents are going to allow you to buy a dress that?s obviously expensive, then it should be appropriate to them and it should be able to be worn.”School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed said the dress code is “absolutely not” more restrictive than other schools.?There?s nothing wrong with the dress code,” said Reed. “It?s not bizarre or anything. We always had questions like, ?What about this or what about that.? It?s common sense. For some reason some radio stations and TV stations and reporters ? they exaggerate things and make fun of it. It?s all about getting the attention so people laugh. I?m tired of Saugus being laughed at.”School Committee member Arthur Grabowski said he thinks the policy is fair.?Joe Diorio knows the kids,” said Grabowski. “He g