The debate over whether sweatpants should be part of the NDP uniform has been a highly contested one. In fact, it always seems to be the number one suggestion student-faculty reps get before attending meetings.

It is because of this that I am ecstatic to share with you the most recent update on this issue- within the next few weeks, an official pair of sweatpants will be added to the school uniform. This decision was based not only on student demand but on multiple research studies done over the past few months. In this article I will share what data led to this decision, how the addition of sweatpants will benefit the students’ health, and the ways the school will profit from it as well.

Firstly, over the past few months, the spread of infectious diseases such as measles has skyrocketed. This has caused many scientists to try to find methods to prevent the transmission of germs. These goals have led researchers to investigate the recent past for a solution, specifically the coronavirus outbreak from 5 years ago.

Everyone remembers wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, but did you know that sweatpants have been found to have a similar effect? Limiting the amount of skin to surface contact has been shown to reduce sickness in test subjects by up to 26%, and limiting skin to skin contact reduced it by 34%. Sweatpants will greatly reduce the amount of skin exposed to bacteria and virus carrying surfaces, and potentially lead to a lower number of sick students,

Even more telling, however, are the statistics for mental health. Studies have shown that teenagers who are able to wear comfortable clothes are three times more likely to report having “good mental health”. When asked why they thought this happened, researchers said that being comfortable during the school day allowed students to pay better attention in class, making them feel more productive, and giving them a better understanding of the material.

There was one last factor that went into the school’s choice to add sweatpants to the school uniform- profit. It is well known that some of the Trading Post’s most purchased items are merchandise like school sweaters and pants. The sweatpants currently available for purchase at the trading post, however, are not the ones that will become part of the school uniform. Because of this, students will need to buy at least one new pair of pants if they want to capitalize on the new addition to the uniform.

Once these sweatpants are available for purchase there is no question that hundreds of students will be lining up to buy anywhere from one to ten pairs. Sales will skyrocket right alongside student health, creating a win-win situation for both faculty and students.

There are, of course, some rules that come with the new change. First, sweatpants will not be permitted on assembly days or any school trips. Second, sweatpants must be the correct size. And finally, sweatpants cannot be altered (such as hemming, embroidery, ripping etc.) in any way.

Nevertheless, I think we can all agree that the day this change becomes official will be one for the history books. We do not yet have an exact date or purchasing details, but please stay vigilant for any updates over the next few weeks.

All this being said, please continue to check your email daily for an official announcement and get hype for the new uniform!