Uniforms

Penn State's iconic no-frills football uniforms -- once a symbol of discipline, unity and team over individualism -- will undergo major changes for the upcoming season. For the first time, player names will be displayed on the backs of the jerseys and the uniform will feature a blue ribbon, the symbol  for child abuse awareness. Months ago, new Coach Bill O'Brien said the school's uniforms wouldn't change from the design favored by Joe Paterno for much of his 46 years as head coach.

The Golden State Warriors are not only making waves with their new winning ways this season, but they'll be setting a fashion trend Friday night when they sport new short-sleeved uniforms during their game against the San Antonio Spurs. The uniforms look similar to the new generation of workout gear, which features a lighter material that helps absorb moisture. The alternate short-sleeved uniform the Warriors will wear is made of a material that is 26% lighter than the current tank-top jerseys.

Students at Pacific Drive Elementary School will be required to wear uniforms this fall. Schools in the Fullerton School District were given permission two months ago to impose mandatory dress codes, and Pacific Drive is the first to do so. District officials said the dress code is part of a nationwide movement toward school uniforms.

President Clinton cheered school uniforms in his State of the Union address and Pico Rivera listened. Its school district has named a committee to study mandatory uniforms for the district's 8,200 elementary and middle-school students. Last year Pico Rivera instituted a voluntary uniform policy at four elementary schools. Participation varied from about 80% of students at Valencia to 25% at Rio Vista.

Magnolia School District officials are trying to find out how the community feels about requiring uniforms for students at the district's eight campuses. A survey in English, Spanish and Vietnamese will be sent to parents whose children attend those schools. School board trustees, who approved a final draft of the letter this week, will evaluate the responses before deciding whether to require uniforms. Supt. Paul S.

Getting uniforms is one of the challenges facing Maria (Cuca) Monzon, leader of a Girl Scout troop in a low-income, primarily Latino area of Fullerton. "When we talk to mothers about Girl Scouts, they say it is too expensive," said Monzon, a paid leader who is part of a campaign by the Girl Scout Council of Orange County to reach into poor minority communities. Uniforms are not required, and because they are costly the parents in such communities can rarely afford them.

Trustees of the Anaheim Union High School District are continuing a study to determine whether to create a school uniform policy. Trustees have scheduled a session Tuesday morning with administrators at Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, which requires its middle- and high-school students to wear uniforms. The district also plans community input sessions at each school before it votes on the issue, said Katherine H. Smith, who initiated the discussion of adopting uniforms.

Anaheim Union High School District trustees will discuss pursuing a school uniform policy at their meeting tonight. If trustees support consideration of school uniforms, several sessions will be scheduled for community input before the item goes to a vote, Trustee Joanne L. Stanton said. "We're really at a grass-roots level right now," Stanton said. "Even if we wanted to go in that direction, there's a lot of groundwork that has to be done with the community."

Opinion was sharply divided at a public hearing this week that drew more than 300 people to express their views about mandatory school uniforms. Santa Ana Unified School District board members are set to vote on the question Oct. 8. Though a school survey earlier this year showed that 75% of those responding favor uniforms, slightly more than half of the dozens who spoke at the hearing said they are opposed.

Starting next month, Virgin America 's in-flight crew members will sport a new look. The airline, which turns 5 on Aug. 8, plans to roll out new uniforms designed by Banana Republic, with creative input gleaned from a design competition and suggestions from flight crew members too. The buzzwords designers use in describing the wardrobe change: "utility chic. " (Here's a photo gallery of the new look.) The new uniforms are combinations of red, white and black.