As the end of the semester approaches , many seniors are enduring  the process of mock congress in their government classes. Students partake in a simulated version of the U.S. Congress to learn more about the government system. 

In order to instill professionalism guidelines in the real world,  government teachers specify a dress code for Mock Congress. In the past, rules were in place making it mandatory for girls to wear either a skirt or dress to receive full credit. There was still an option to wear pants, but they would then receive four out of five points as opposed to the five for dresses. 

According to teacher Joel Black, this rule was implemented when the Mock Congress program was first devised. . 

“In 1995, all teachers had full credit at dresses, skirts, and no less,” Black says. 

The rule has been newly removed in all government classrooms.

Senior Claire Marlatt strongly advocates for the allowance of pants, even conducting a poll on Twitter, where all but one voter were in agreeance with Marlatt. 

“It’s discrimination,” she reasons. “There is no reason that dress pants should be considered any less dressed up than skirts or dresses.” 

The weather during these cold winter months also brought the unwanted shivering legs of the women. 

Rules of this nature, however, have since been removed.

“It’s 2019,” Marlatt says. “It just doesn’t make sense to me.”