High school is all about traditions, and few traditions are as enduring as cheerleaders wearing their uniforms on Fridays in the fall. But this year, there’s a new wrinkle.

Last Friday, the day before the season football opener, some cheerleaders were informed that their uniforms were violating dress code, and that to make them appropriate, material would have to be added to the edge of the skirt. The attitude on dress code has changed over the summer, and many cheerleaders were left upset.

“I think it’s really unfair because cheerleaders have been wearing their skirts short for … I don’t really know how long, but it’s been a while and just this year they told us they were too short because they were enforcing dress code. I think it’s really unfair,” junior Taylor Stanaland said.

Technically, there has been no change to the dress code. According to Principal Greg Quinn, a comparison of the school handbooks from 2009 to 2010 would show no difference. Instead, it’s all about enforcement.

“The enforcement has gotten stricter,” he said. Assistant principals have stepped up their efforts, checking in on classrooms throughout the day and reminding teachers to be more vigilant. More than one student has reported stricter enforcement.

 “I know we were allowed to wear our skirts last year and now we are not,” junior Taylor Farrell said. In fact, many cheerleaders have said that last year the skirts were shorter than this year’s skirt.

 Football games are a different story.

 “Dress code applies only here on campus from when we arrive to 2:30. In the learning environment is when it applies,” Quinn said, noting that when you’re on the field, you have to wear uniforms such as the ones the cheerleaders wear.

Many students feel otherwise.

“Football players have their uniforms, Charms have their warm-ups, and cheerleaders should have their uniforms,” said Brooke Vatuna, a varsity cheerleader.