Every year, in order for Seniors to graduate, they must get a cap and gown. People have begun to look forward to decorating their caps, turning over the tassel, and tossing them in the air. Caps and gowns have become a symbol to students, of the end of an era and the freedom that comes with graduation.
This year, Lincoln’s approach to caps and gowns leaves much to be desired. Instead of the rental gowns that I expected, I found that the class of 2025 must all purchase their gowns, together, from the same company.
Buying a gown, something that is typically worn once, reinforces Americas consumerist culture, and our reliance on environmentally unsustainable production.
While gowns don’t have the same rapid supply and demand as other fast fashion products, they still cost much more environmentally than they’re worth to the people who are wearing them.
While they aren’t flying off the rack, having approximately 400 gowns being purchased by Lincoln’s graduating class each year adds up.
It is ridiculous to expect students to be excited to purchase a garment that they do not intend to keep. Many students I’ve talked to have expressed that they wouldn’t choose to purchase a gown, if they were given the choice to rent one instead.
The school should not force students buy one-use gowns and fuel America’s consumer culture, but should rather give them the option to limit the waste we are creating, by initiating a gown rental system at Lincoln.
Students should be allowed to buy or rent their caps from wherever they see fit (as many like to decorate and bedazzle them), and be encouraged to rent a gown from Lincoln. This would afford more flexibility to Lincoln students and any specific requirements they had from a gown, while reducing students environmental impact.
Currently, Lincoln accepts donations of gowns from students who do not wish to keep them after the graduation ceremony. They then release these gowns back into circulation by lending them to people who need some financial aid and cannot purchase them themselves.
However, this system has stayed small, and the majority of students are still expected to shell out 80 dollars to purchase the required cap, gown, stole and tassel.
While the basic package from the gown company only costs 60 dollars, they intentionally have implemented methods to make the actual cost much higher.
There is an automatic handling fee of 13 dollars for each person’s cap and gown, even though the gowns are being delivered to Lincoln, not directly to students. On top of that, there is a 10 percent tax that falls on after “shipping and handling”, creating a total of 80 dollars — if you buy the most basic package.
80 dollars for a gown that students will wear a single time. It just isn’t worth it.
Gowns shouldn’t be treated as wedding dresses, something expensive to wear once and look back at fondly. They should be treated with respect, and made more easily available to Lincoln students of the future.
Gowns have become a physical manifestation of “educational success” and instead of having a price tag that could alienate some people, they should be as easily accessible as possible.
Why not expand our gown rental system, and allow all students to rent gowns from Lincoln? This year’s class of graduating seniors have already purchased their gowns, and it is too late to provide a rental system for them. But that doesn’t mean it is too late to prevent further future waste and financial stress.
I invite this year’s seniors to give their gowns back to Lincoln after the graduation ceremony, to help provide gowns for next year’s class of seniors. This would allow us to initiate a proper system of gown rentals at Lincoln, saving materials and money.
Help support students who can’t afford caps and gowns, and mitigate the impact of another 400 gowns worth of fabric on the environment. By taking your foot off the gas pedal that is consumerism, you can make an impact.
