Long Island high school principal Nicholas Restivo recently banned all Halloween costumes at the school, due to three senior girls who showed up at the school controversially dressed as the scantily-clad comic book hero, Captain Underpants.

The girls were described to have been wearing beige-colored leotards and nude stockings, under white briefs, and red capes, as reported by the Associated Press. The report said that their choice of costume made them look naked.

Principal Restivo was quoted in explaining his decision to ban a traditional Halloween practice: "Captain Underpants certainly convinced me again that banning costumes was the right way to go."

The principal added that the gruesome look some students opt to go for could potentially make other students uncomfortable.

United Press International reported that Restivo at first harbored doubts about banning the costumes.

"I had to sit back and ask myself, 'Are you being an ogre?'" Restivo explained. "I'm a principal. I'm not being an ogre."

Some students have reportedly reacted negatively to the ban, and have started to circulate petitions calling for it to be lifted. An unidentified junior student was calling for "innocent" costumes to be allowed, while all the other controversial ones be banned.

Restivo, however, insisted that his decision is final, and no change of mind will take place despite the petition.

""What seems like a real funny thing is often hurtful to our kids ... with blood and guts or knives hanging out, even if they are plastic," Restivo explained. "We don't know what kind of emotions that evokes."