ASHLAND, Mass. — This year, a tradition will end at a local high school.
Boys and girls used to wear different colored gowns at graduation, but this year Ashland High School seniors will wear the same color.
“We were just kind of told we were going to be wearing all blue not white,” one student told FOX25.
They students graduate in about a month.
“The idea was really kind of thrown upon us without us knowing and there was really nothing we could do about it,” Ashland HS senior Joseph Wright said.
School officials say the move to exclusively blue gowns has to do with inclusivity.
Superintendent James Adams sent a statement to FOX25 saying: "We strive to ensure that transgender students, gender non-conforming students, students of color, students with disabilities and students of differing religions will enter and participate in our school system feeling welcomed."
Graduating seniors who spoke to FOX25 say what was unwelcome about the color change is that they felt it was imposed on them.
“I wish there was more a voting rather than an assumption,” one student said.
FOX25 spoke with Ashland High School Principal Kelley St. Coeur by phone. She said the plan to go to all blue was revealed at a senior class assembly in the fall and she says it was met with student applause.
But students say they don't quite remember it happening that way.
“I actually remember everybody was a little bit disappointed,” one student told FOX25.
But students say it isn’t a big issue.
“If everybody at the end of the day feels accepted then I'm sure we'll have a great graduation,” Ashland HS senior Erika Hicks said.