Biancia Barrett

Journalism, 1
st

April 28,2014
News Prompt #2
Schools usually have some sort of dress code policy that the administration strictly
enforces to all students unless the persons outfit is a part of a religious group. For instance,
females of the Muslim religion must wear a hijab so the school system allows the girls to cover
their heads with it. The Church of Body Modification has been left out of this rule. On April 10,
the school system will take sophomore Stacy Carol to a disciplinary hearing to remove her to an
alternative school until she removes her lip piercing.
Stacy was suspended two weeks ago for three days for refusing to remove her
religious lip piercing. When Stacy returned, she was put into In-School Suspension for the
past nine school days because she refused to take out the lip piercing.
I dont understand why the district wont drop this, Stacy said. I have never been
suspended. In fact, I have never had a referral. I am a straight-A student. I just want to get back
to class.
Stacy and her mother, Lareina Carol, have been attending the Church of Body
Modification since the winter break and meet with seven to 10 members each Sunday. The
church believes that what a person does to their body can lead to their spirituality and is
completely optional.
The piercing is part of Stacys religion, Carol said. [My daughter] wants to stand up
for herself and for that, I am proud.
Biancia Barrett
Journalism, 1
st

April 28,2014
Stacy has asked the American Civil Liberties Union to defend her in her discipline
hearing and they have agreed to help her on account that they believe it is a violation of her
first amendment rights.
Stacy has a solid case, ACLU lawyer Sonia Stephens said. It is in the best interest of
the school district to allow her a religious exemption from the dress code. The district doesnt
have much to stand on since it already has two religious exemptions on file.
However, constitutional lawyer Jett Ramirez disagrees. The First Amendment does little
to protect religious-freedom claims under the current law. In 1990, the Supreme Court
weakened the reach of the free-exercise by ruling that the government can not show a
compelling state interest before denying a religious exemption.
Just because a few people get together and call themselves a church doesnt mean
they are a church in the eyes of the law, Ramirez said. The school district should hold its
ground. I believe the courts will see the absurdity in this.
Students like junior Amina Shakuri have nothing against Stacys piercing but finds it
ridiculous that people are comparing her Muslim religion to that of Stacys. Stacys hearing will
change how the school views dress code and how the district deals with cases like this.
We dont worship a tattooed god or anything like that, Stacy said. Not every
member has a facial piercing. You choose how you want to express your faith.