“Bring your Tech lock and uniform for PE!”
It’s a phrase all too familiar to Brooklyn Tech students. Every student is required to buy a Tech-issued Master Lock and shirt in order to be marked “prepared” for Physical Education (PE) class. But with a price tag of $20 for a lock and $15 for a shirt, many contend that Tech’s merchandise costs too much. In a recent poll conducted by The Survey, an overwhelming 96% of students responded that the combined price of $35 for the Tech lock and gym uniform is simply too expensive. Despite the popular opinion, however, the cost of Tech merchandise is justified.
The “Tech lock” is unique from a standard Master Lock in two respects: the keyhole and serial number. Serial numbers match each lock to its respective combination so that students who forget their combination can obtain it from the Student Government Organization (SGO) store or from the PE office. The keyholes can be unlocked with a master key that PE teachers can use to open students’ locks without resorting to a lock cutter.
Mr. Stephen Gigliello, a PE teacher at Tech for 36 years, sees the value in these features. He recalled the prior struggles teachers faced when trying to open locks with lock cutters.
“We’d have to use our whole body,” he recounted. “There’d be sparks flying. It was a lot of effort, and a couple teachers got hurt.”
Mr. Gigliello also commented on the usefulness of the keyhole. “[At the start of school] with freshmen forgetting their combos, we use the key about 20 times a week,” he explained. “As the months go by, we use it less and less, but we still use it.” As for the serial numbers, he added, “You bring your lock, and there’s a serial number on the back, then we look [the combination] up on the sheet, easy as that.”
When asked for his thoughts on the price, he responded simply, “Well, [the lock is] necessary, and the price is the price.”
A select few students share Mr. Gigliello’s sentiment.
“I think [the price] is fair because you can use the lock outside of school,” argued Mechatronics and Robotics major Gilbert Zhang (‘25), who also remarked that if you are responsible with your lock, it will easily last you four years.
Zhang stated that as long as the money from locks and shirts was invested in students, he was fine with paying extra. Tech Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Principal of Organization, Jennifer Sullivan, provided insight into how exactly SGO store “profits” are used.
“All money generated in the SGO store is spent on students,” said Ms. Sullivan. “The profit isn’t a lot.”
Most profit comes from the sale of Tech shirts and other clothing. In fact, Ms. Sullivan revealed, “When all’s said and done, we lose a little bit of money on the locks because we have to pay tax on it, and we don’t charge that extra bit.”
Ms. Sullivan explained that high lock prices are due to the quality. “Think of them as the Harvard of locks,” she said. “They’re very strong. It’s designed for your protection.”
Without the SGO store, Ms. Sullivan noted, the school would lose a major source of income, as well as some benefits of student life.
“Your extracurricular activities cost a huge, huge amount,” she explained. “You want to make the gym uniform $5 less? Okay, but that money comes from things you guys want to do. I’ll be telling advisors there’s no money. [The profit] subsidizes a huge number of activities, like Science Olympiad, the debate team, robotics…athletics, we pay for all of that. You guys don’t pay to participate.” While a $5 cost reduction on Tech shirts may seem small, considering the fact that there are around 6,000 students at Tech, the school would lose a lot of potential cash.
The majority of Tech students are unhappy with the price of both locks and clothing in the SGO store.
“The price of the lock isn’t fair,” said Civil Engineering major Dalia Elmadboly (‘26). “My friends who have lost theirs don’t want to buy it again because it’s just too expensive.”
The price of the lock has driven students to find ways to avoid buying one. “I’ve given my lock to friends,” Elmadboly stated. It’s also worth noting that though it is not a requirement, many students own multiple shirts for convenience, so costs can stack up.
According to NYSED data from the 2022-2023 school year, 59% of Tech students are considered “economically disadvantaged,” meaning approximately 3,500 students participate in a form of economic assistance program, such as food stamps or earned income tax credit. As such, to many students, the prices of Tech items can seem unfair, or even be financially burdensome.
“It’s expensive for just a lock,” observed Louis Lei (‘27). “Online, [normal Master Locks] are only $7-10.”
Though the cost of SGO necessities is a valid concern, when the financial support that the store provides for the school is taken into account, the prices are more understandable. Saving a few dollars on these items is not as important as funding academic and athletic teams, and the countless other student activities we all know and love.
Tech is a complex school with a lot going on behind the scenes, renowned for its specialized facilities and countless opportunities. it can be easy to take all of these things for granted. Rather than questioning the price of Tech merch, we should be grateful for all of the benefits Brooklyn Tech provides.
“Kids say, ‘Oh, the school should pay for it,” said Ms. Sullivan. “I don’t know where they think the school’s getting money! That’s why we need the store. Overall, I think we do a pretty good job here of keeping your cost of life minimal.”
