Your high school years are almost over when you receive the Jostens student packet. The THICK packet has class rings, caps and gowns, necklaces and assorted jewelry all available for purchase to signify the end of your four years at South.
With no form simply saying “Cap & Gown” as an option, some students are wary of selecting an entire package. Senior Alexander Schalk has voiced his concerns about Jostens to Optimist staff, and he even created a petition to refine the Jostens process.
“My biggest problem isn’t with the apparel available but rather [with] the way Jostens is going about it,” Schalk said. “The Jostens meeting for seniors should be on a voluntary basis in panther plus, as opposed to a mandatory SRT meeting.”
Along with this required meeting, another annoyance for Schalk has been the amount of advertisements from Jostens. Every stairwell, hallway and even the lunchroom has Jostens advertisements.
Schalk believes the monopoly that Jostens holds over Bloomington South’s graduating class allows for aggravating rules. For example, a rule that discourages seniors from wearing older siblings caps and gowns is implied at South. Schalk believes this rule is inconvenient for students with large families and for lower income families who can’t afford to purchase a cap and gown set every year. It isn’t always realistic for families to purchase new garb simply due to a miniscule difference in the purple color of the regalia .
Jostens representative Brad Long revealed some helpful ordering tips and responded to Schalk’s complaints. Seniors can in fact order only a cap and gown; they just have to do a little searching for the option. Tucked away on the order sheet about ¾ of the way down the page there is a “Cap and Gown Unit” option in the Regalia section. This option also reduces the price of order by $10.60 as it doesn’t require the shipping and handling fee. Although there is no form that clearly states “Cap and Gown Unit,” the availability is there.
As for reusing caps and gowns from siblings, Long says he wasn’t aware of the rule South has.
“As far as I’m concerned they can wear the same cap,” Long said. “The gown and tassel are more complicated as gowns are rented and returned while tassels have specific years on them. Wearing older siblings graduation apparel can be slightly cheaper, but [it] takes out the specialness of having your own cap and gown.”
Although Schalk’s complaints were filed against Jostens class apparel selling tactics, there is a method to their madness. Jostens believes the advertisement is what helps make every senior feel unique with their specially made graduation apparel, Long said.
