The Cretin-Derham Hall administration has issued new policies regarding a variety of aspects of student life. One in particular happens to be the consideration of banning backpacks during the school day and issuing string bags in their place. This is intended to increase student health, allow for easier passage through the halls, and lower theft at our school. This is met with much protest by the student body and many alumni of CDH. It is the belief of those who sign this petition that if this new policy is implemented, student's expression of self through our backpacks will be restricted and our ability to carry all necessary items to class will be hindered. One's backpack, at a private school, is one of the only places where you can decided what color, pattern, or style you will wear for that year. All other clothing decisions are made for you with a uniform and your backpack is the sole outlet for personal choice. Along with that, the current 5-minute passing time between classes does not allow for a student to go to their locker, exchange books, and then arrive to class on time. With many different classes all over the building and a stationary locker, this would surely result in regular tardies by students. As for the increase in student health, a string bag filled with heavy books pulls on the shoulders and forces the weight into your lower back. With regular backpacks, the weight is more evenly distributed. Also the strings that rub up against the shoulder would over time pinch the nerve bundle under you pectoralis minor which would weaken your lower traps and serrates anterior. For these reasons and many more, the signers of this petition hope to put an end to the idea of banning backpacks and distributing string bags. When signed, this petition will be presented to the administration of CDH and the decision will be theirs.

-Isaiah Sullivan