There will be a disciplinary hearing this tuesday to attempt to move sophomore Stacy

Carol to the alternative school, after being suspended for two weeks for not removing her lip
jewelry. Superintendent Parker Gordon said Stacy’s lip jewelry goes against dress code, but
Stacy says it's part of her religion,The Church of Body Modification.
“Our spirituality comes from what we chose to do with ourselves,” Carol said. “Not every
member has a facial piercing. You choose how you want to express your faith.”
The Church of Body Modification practices ancient and modern body modification rites
with about 3,500 U.S. members which both Stacy and her mom are part of. The church has a
clergy, a statement of beliefs, and a formal process for accepting new members.
“The piercing is part of Stacy’s religion,” Lareina Carol said. ‘My daughter wants to go back
to class, but she also doesn't want her First Amendment rights trampled. She wants to stand up
for herself and for that, I am proud.”
But there are people who disagree with Carol’s attempt to say the school is violating her
First Amendment right.
“I don’t have a problem with Stacy’s lip piercing, but comparing her lip piercing to my hijab is
absurd,” junior Amina Shakuri said.
Constitutional lawyer Jett Ramirez said that just because you say your First Amendment is
being violated doesn’t mean much.
“People cry First Amendment violations all of the time,” Ramirez said. “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. The school district should hold its ground.”
Superintendent Gordon said that they want students to understand that they are modeling
the business world and that employers have dress codes, so they can not wear whatever they
want whenever they want.
“We have a dress code to have order and discipline in our schools,” Gordon said. “The
district sought input from students, faculty, and community members. Together, we designed a
plan that was appropriate for our district.”
The U.S Supreme Court has weakened the reach of the free-exercise clause, so the
government does not have to show a ‘compelling state interest’​.
“Most Americans would be surprised to learn just how little protection the First Amendment
provides for religions-freedom claims under current law,” Ramirez said.
 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the other hand will defend Stacy during
her discipline hearing and said if Stacy was to lose during her discipline hearing, they would
take this issue to court.
“Stacy has a solid case,” ACLU lawyer Sonia Stephens said. ”The district doesn’t have much
to stand on since it already has two religions exemptions on file. It will be hard pressed to
defend that in court.”