A group of female students are outraged that their Utah high school digitally edited their photographs in the 2014 yearbook for apparently violating a dress code and failed to apply that policy to other apparent violators . Intensifying the controversy are comments from the leader of the Rape Recovery Center in Salt Lake City , who called for a school district investigation Thursday into the clothing policy , which she says is an example of a culture that shames girls and women . School leaders stood by the dress code Thursday but admitted inconsistency in the digital editing , for which the superintendent apologized . At issue is a dress policy that Wasatch High School in Heber City says it posted on yearbook picture day last fall : No tank tops . No low-cut tops . No inappropriate slogan on shirts . Violations would result in the students ' portraits being edited , the school said . Now that the yearbook has been distributed , several female students are complaining that their pictures were altered to show less skin without their knowledge , according to CNN affiliate KSTU . No boys ' photos were digitally edited , the girls argued . `` They did n't tell you before they edited it , and they did n't give you an option to fix it , so you look funny in your yearbook picture , '' sophomore Shelby Baum told the news outlet . But the high school asserts that a large sign -- 4 feet by 5 feet -- warned all students of the policy at picture day last fall , the school said on its Facebook page . In response , the female students say that the pictures of some girls who apparently violated the dress policy were n't edited at all -- an accusation that prompted the superintendent 's apology and a school promise to review its editing practices . `` I feel like they put names in a hat and pick and choose who , '' sophomore Rachel Russel told the affiliate . `` There were plenty of girls that were wearing thicker tank tops , and half of them got edited and half of them did n't . '' Indeed , Rachel 's photo was clearly edited , according to images she showed the news station . Her original photo shows her wearing a low-cut top , but in the yearbook , her neckline is raised and covers a tattoo near her clavicle , the station reported . Superintendent Terry E. Shoemaker of the Wasatch County School District defended the policy , but he apologized `` in the sense that we wanted to be more consistent with what it is we 're trying to do , '' he told the affiliate . On its Facebook page , the school acknowledged that errors were made . `` In the application of these graphic corrections , the high school yearbook staff did make some errors and were not consistent in how they were applied to student photos and the school apologizes for that inconsistency , '' the school said . `` Wasatch High School and Wasatch County School District are evaluating the practice of photo editing of pictures as it now stands and will make a determination on further use of the practice . '' But the Rape Recovery Center in Salt Lake City raised broader issues , noting how female survivors of sexual violence `` almost always blame themselves for wearing the wrong clothing or somehow encouraging men to rape them through their reckless behavior , '' the center said on its Facebook page . Holly Mullen , the center 's executive director , says the school district should investigate the policy and the school 's digital editing of yearbook photos . The center is Utah 's only independent , non-profit agency providing full-time services to survivors of sexual violence ages 14 and older . `` This action , a decision made by a few school officials with no apparent consultation with students or parents , is just unacceptable , '' Mullen said in a statement . `` It is a keen example of how our culture , and especially those in power to make such random decisions , shame young women into thinking they must dress and act in one narrow , acceptable way . `` This is the start of a continuum that nurtures and even encourages control over girls and women . What is more personal than their clothing choices ? This is not about setting school dress codes , which schools certainly have the right to do . These were photos the girls paid for , yearbooks they bought with their own money . This is a public school , supported with tax dollars , '' Mullen said . Shoemaker was n't immediately available for comment on Mullen 's accusations . For now , students will have to live forever with what they describe as unflattering photos in their yearbook . `` I was upset because my shirt was a cream color and the color of the cover-up was completely white . It looks like white-out on my skin , '' sophomore Kimberly Montoya told KSTU .
A group of girls say their yearbook photos were edited badly and unfairly . At issue is a dress code for yearbook photos that forbade low-cut tops and tanks . School superintendent stands by policy but apologizes for inconsistent editing . But a rape recovery center in Utah says the policy shames girls and women .