News Prompt 2 Kayla Burford 4/28/14

Journalism
The district is determining if they should allow exemptions to the students that have religious
symbols that dont abide by the districts dress code. Students believe that it deprives them of their First
Amendment to express religious freedom and that they should be allowed to express themselves
without suspension. It prohibits all facial piercings, but for sophomore Stacy Carol that his her way of
expressing religion. She attends the Church of Body Modifications, which expresses body modification as
a way of experiencing the divine. Stacy refused to take out her piercing because she wants to stand up
for what she believes in; as a result she has been in suspension for three weeks. On April 10
th
there will
be a meeting to discuss what to do with Stacy if she continually does not remove the piercing.
The district believes that when the dress code was made it had a lot of the communities input,
which made it such a solid dress code for the past few years. When we created the dress code in 2009,
the district sought input from students, faculty members and the community. said Superintendent
Parker Gordan. Together we designed a plan that was appropriate for our district.
If the piercing is not a distraction to Stacy and the students around her, she feels that there
should be no problem and that the district should give her an exemption. I have never been suspended.
In fact, I have never had a referral, sophomore Stacy Carol protested. I am a straight-A student. I just
want to get back to class. Although Stacys case seems to fit some of the requirements for a dress code
exemption, the district feels that this event will cause many other students to feel they can break the
dress code. Just because a few people get together and call it a church doesnt mean they are a church
in the eyes of the law, Constitutional Lawyer Jett Ramirez said. Heck, in Australia there is a movement
to start the Jedi church. Does that mean we have to allow all teenage boys to wear Jedi Knight robes and
carry light sabers to school?
Two Muslim students were allowed a dress code exemption to wear their hijabs all though hats
and headwear is a violation of the dress code. I dont think you can compare Muslim religion to the
church of body modifications, junior Amina Shakuri said. Our beliefs are documented. I have no
problem with Stacys lip piercing, but comparing it to my hijab is absurd.
These exemptions for the two Muslim students will be taken into consideration when deciding if
Stacy should have an exemption for her piercing. It is in the best interest of the school district to allow
her a religious exemption from the dress code, ACLU lawyer Sonia Stephens said. The district doesnt
have much to stand on, since it already has two religious exemptions on file.
Stacy Carol and her mother are debating on if they should let this case go or pursue it. I asked
Stacy if she wanted to back down and take out the lip piercing, but she believes in our church and in our
freedom, Stacys mother Lareina Carol said. She wants to stand up for herself and for that, I am
proud.