Cape to allow stoles identifying any school club

A new school procedure will allow students participating in all approved high school clubs and organizations to wear identifying stoles at graduation.

In December, high school administrators approved a plan developed by the Cape Henlopen High School Building Leadership Team, students and community stakeholders that allows all approved school groups to wear identifying stoles. Students may wear up to three stoles during graduation in addition to any cords already worn by approved clubs, groups or organizations, said Superintendent Robert Fulton.

“The approved criteria will be mostly related to making sure the group is an approved club or organization at the high school and that the stole is of a standard size, etc.,” Fulton said.

The decision is a change from a previous rule that allowed only academic or service-based clubs and organizations to wear affiliated stoles at graduation.

Stoles are made of fabric similar to a graduation gown and hang around a student's neck.

Controversy erupted last spring after members of the newly-formed Gay-Straight Alliance were denied the right to wear rainbow stoles during graduation because GSA was not considered an academic or service-oriented club.

With the new decision, GSA members will be allowed to wear stoles depicting their affiliation during graduation, Fulton said.

“The GSA is an approved club at CHHS and they, as well as other approved clubs and organizations, will have the opportunity to wear stoles at graduation,” Fulton said.

Fulton said he believes GSA students will be able to wear rainbow-colored stoles, if they choose, because there has been no color requirement for stoles in the past.

During the December school board meeting, students in Cape's Leo Club were concerned that they would no longer be allowed to wear stoles at graduation. In a written statement, the group asked the district to allow approved groups to continue to wear their stoles and consider extending the right to other clubs and organizations.

“It is a tradition that has inspired students that when their graduation day finally comes, they can – like their brothers, sisters, friends and role models before them have – wear a badge of recognition to distinguish them for their work ethic, academic success and dedication to service,” said Dahlyn Sugrue, Leo Club member.

Linda Gregory, president of Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, has volunteered with Cape's GSA. She said she is pleased with the new policy and is looking forward to the future.

“I'm definitely glad that the policy has been created and that all of the student clubs will be created equally,” she said.

Editor's note: The story was changed to reflect new school procedure