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Students Complain About Ban On Short Shorts Amid Extreme Heat

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Some students at Lincoln Park High School were upset about being forced to comply with the school's dress code during the extreme heat on Monday and Tuesday.

WBBM Newsradio's Regine Schlesinger reports, as temperatures soared into the 90s, and some of the rooms without air conditioning were left sweltering, students who showed up in short shorts were told to buy longer gym shorts to cover up, and come into compliance with the dress code.

"Anybody who didn't have long shorts had to change into gym shorts," Alyssa said.

Students Forced To Buy Gym Shorts To Cover Up

One classmate, Flora, showed up in short shorts again on Wednesday, despite temperatures about 10 degrees lower than the first two days of class, and came prepared in case she has to cover up again.

"I don't think so, but I have shorts in my backpack in case," she said. "I'm dying in my pants."

Other students said the rules should be followed.

Vanessa said she came to school in jeans, and had no sympathy for those who flout the dress code, even in the terrible heat.

"I was really hot, but I mean it's dress code, it's school rules," she said. "Follow school rules, that's all there is to it."

Jasmine also complied with the dress code, and didn't get into trouble, but, said she thinks the school should bend the rules a bit when it's as hot as it was Monday and Tuesday.

"I think they should have been a little more flexible, because it's the heat," she said. "You could just faint, or whatever, because it's so hot in there. Everybody complains about it, so … they should understand, but I guess if you want to follow the rules, they should."

Principal Michael Boraz declined to comment on the situation, instead escorting a reporter out of the building.

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