Hoodies have been a part of the Preuss dress code for a long time, but after the summer of 2024, they were removed from the dress code. Now, crewnecks have replaced hoods. Administration removed hoods because they look unprofessional for our environment. However, hoods have many benefits and they should be implemented back onto the dress code.
As we begin to approach the winter months, the temperature begins to drop down making it harder to maintain warmth, especially on our heads since they aren’t covered. Hoods solved this issue as they are full head and neck covered, not allowing the cold to get in. The cold can be harsh on our skin, and if we do not keep it protected with something like a hoodie, then it can make it become dry, red, and itchy.
The cold is one of the many circumstances in which hoods have protected us. Hoods gave us protection against the rain, which happens every once in a while in La Jolla, and although umbrellas do help protect us from most of the rain, hoodies gave us an added sense of protection in rainy weather. There are also students who choose not to use an umbrella, and in those situations, hoods would help keep their heads drier than they would be with nothing on.
Taking away hoodies does come with its benefits. For example, making students wear crewnecks allows their ears to be exposed which then helps identify if students are wearing headphones, which are also now restricted on campus. Additionally, the crewnecks allow students to look more professional than they would with a hoodie, which is a big reason why hoods were removed. A lot of the time, students would also wear hoods in class, which was never allowed at Preuss and banning them solved this issue.
However, both of these restrictions can be solved by other means to consider how a student feels as well. For example, in class, when students no longer have to deal with the cold, teachers can make students take their hoods off to reveal if they have headphones in or not. The administration makes a really good point when they say that hoods look unprofessional; however, when the temperature is cold, it is important to maintain warmth and prioritize our health.
There is another alternative to hoods which could be considered, for example, beanies. Beanies provide heads with warmth and they prevent our scalps from drying in the cold. However, going back to the reason that hoods were removed, beanies look unprofessional and would not look good for the environment that Preuss is trying to set, which is professional.
Ultimately, implementing hoods back onto the dress code would be beneficial to the student population and would keep them happy. Hoodies come with many benefits which is why they should be put back onto the dress code.
