NEWS STORY 2

On April 10, sophomore Sarah Carol will be defending herself for her religious
practices of modern body modification of the Church of Body Modifications in the
disciplinary hearing at Leaguetown High school.
Lareina Carol, parent of Sarah, believes she must fight this for her kid not only to
stand up for yourself but to also protect your First Amendment right.
“My daughter wants to go to class, but she also doesn’t want her First
Amendment rights trampled,” Lareina said. “I asked Stacey if she wanted to back down
and take out the lip jewelry, but she believes in our church and in our freedom.”
Sarah and Lareina will be supported by the American Civil LIberties Union in this
disciplinary hearing.
“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 superintendent Parker Gordon believes not only this dress code is
appropriate, but also prepares the students for the real world.
“We also want our students to understand expectations in dress,” Gordon said.
“Employers have dress codes. We are modeling the business world with our
expectations.”
The dress code prohibits all hats and headwear, except there are two Muslim
students that are allowed to wear their hijabs. Sonia Stephens plans on using this as an
advantage in the hearing, but junior Amina Shakuri disagrees with their understanding.
“I don’t think you can compare the Muslim religion to the Church of Body
Modification,” Shakuri said. “There are more than a billion Muslims worldwide [compare
to the 7 to 10 members that meet every sunday]. Our beliefs are documented… but
comparing her lip piercing to my hijab is absurd.”
Constitutional lawyer Jett Ramirez believes the Carol’s approach with the First
Amendment right can be manipulated in different situations.
“People cry First Amendment violations all the time,” Ramirez said. “Freedom of
religion is a big one. Just because a few people get together and call themselves a
church doesn’t mean they are a church in the eyes of the law.”

Senior Leo ANdrews is playing his tuba in the early morning with his fellow Hebron High
School bandmates. Although it is September, students like Leo are having to play their
instruments for the future competitions in the up in coming year.