Yearbook quote puts West Milford senior in spotlight
A West Milford High School senior has caused quite a stir with her entry in the yearbook.
Tori DiPaolo used her senior quote to take a not-so-subtle jab at the school’s dress code. The quote reads, “I’m sorry, did my shoulders distract you from reading this quote?” It's printed below her senior picture, in which she is seen wearing a traditional shoulder-revealing black top.
This wasn't the first time DiPaolo has taken issue with the dress code. She's received violations but never got written up because she argued her case with administrators, she said.
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The quote references a portion of the code dealing with shirts and accessories.
It reads: “Halter tops, half-shirts, tank tops, short or low-cut sweaters and blouses, and mesh shirts, or any tops that expose the stomach, are prohibited. No undergarments should be showing. Tee shirts, any article of clothing, backpacks, or purses, or anything attached to such things, such as pins, patches, etc., will be considered inappropriate if they are of a sexually suggestive nature, or if they promote drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, or if they are the cause of any disruption.”
DiPaolo decided to use that quote because the robes used for the photos technically violate the dress code, which she found ironic. She just wanted to get a few laughs out of it initially, she said.
She posted a photo of the yearbook page to her Twitter account last week. Before that a few people at the school had mentioned it and complimented her but after the post it took off, she said.
Yahoo! reached out to write an article and “after that I was just everywhere,” DiPaolo said.
There is now coverage on Yahoo! and her tweet was even featured on the HuffPost Instagram page. All of the coverage comes with attention, though.
Most has been supportive because the quote sounds like a feminist statement, which wasn’t DiPaolo’s intention, but she doesn’t mind it because anything that could spark conversation about sexism is a positive thing, she said.
DiPaolo just wants everyone to know that this was meant to be a joke, and people made a big deal out of it.