A walk through high school hallways usually finds a brilliant rainbow of colors as students jockey for position in stairwells and funnel past lockers on their way to gym, math or homeroom.

This year the rainbows at Morton East, West, the freshman center and alternative school became significantly sparser in colors. When classes started a couple of weeks ago, it marked the first time students wore uniforms.

Administrators said the controversial decision to switch from a regular dress code to khaki pants, skirts or shorts paired with white-, maroon- or green-colored shirts, sweaters and sweatshirts, came in response to safety concerns from outsiders visiting the schools and gang activity, in addition to the rising cost of clothing marketed to teenagers and the prevalence of dress code violations from belly- and breast-baring shirts and ill-fitting bottoms.

“I think it’s a good way,” said Morton East senior Miguel Ramirez, 18, of Cicero, said. “Wearing different colors, people don’t bother you no more — the gangs. It’s a good way to stay out of trouble right away. People would stop you with colors (while wearing gang colors) before and (ask) what percent you are of a (certain) gang.”

About 3,400 students attend Morton East out of the 8,000 throughout the district. Principal Frank Zarate Jr. said maintaining safety inside the schools was a key reason for the public schools to implement uniforms. Officials wanted not just to suppress gang activity, but to better detect visitors inside the building. In the mass of white, khaki, green and maroon, staff can spot with a mere glance whether a student or adult doesn’t belong, he said.

“Student behavior has been great this year, and many staff believe it’s because of the uniforms,” he explained.

Cicero resident Cristian Garcia, a junior at Morton East, said it is taking some time to become used to seeing the sea of white, khaki, maroon and green.

“It was kind of weird seeing everybody at first,” he said.

“I think the uniforms are just OK,” Garcia said. “I don’t think you can express your individuality, but it’s kind of a good thing not having the hassle of deciding what to wear and the hassle of trying to buy clothes sometimes.”

Uniforms eliminate competitions between students, as in years past, to wear the best or priciest clothes, said Zarate, who also serves as acting Morton High School District 201 superintendent.

“There are quite a few students who would prefer to dress freely and express their style,” he said. “But, again, I’m just happy the parents have been supportive of it. For the past 12 years, we’ve annually had requests to institute uniforms. Prior to this, we’ve had a strict dress code.”
Deans in the schools previously spent “a lot of time dealing with dress code violations. This has eliminated a lot of waste of time,” Zarate added.

But buying the new uniforms costs some extra bucks, as well.

“I did encounter some parents who couldn’t afford them,” he said.

About a dozen parents from each of the four buildings have asked for financial help buying the uniforms, Zarate said. Parents may contact him or the principal at their child’s school to ask about funding assistance, he said, adding the district has funding available for low-income families. The cost of a short-sleeve polo shirt is $12.

“I’m pretty excited. I don’t have to think before I wake up what I’m going to wear,” said Morton East senior Roberto Rios, 18, of Cicero.

Running his hands along his shirt and touching his pants, he said the uniforms are pretty comfortable.

“We look more decent,” said Morton East junior Lenyn Mendoza, 16, of Cicero.