News Story 2

After refusing to take off her facial piercing, sophomore Stacy Carol will attend a
disciplinary hearing tomorrow to discuss her first amendment right to exercise her religion
through body modification.
“When we created this dress code in 2009, the district sought input from students, faculty
and community members,” Superintendent Parker Gordon said. “Together, we designed a plan
that was appropriate for our district. Facial jewelry did not make the cut.”
The Church of Body Modification is an interfaith church that practices ancient and
modern rites of body modification as ways to experience the divine. Carol claims her
punishment to be removed to a different school is violating her right to exercise her religion.
“We don’t worship a tattoed god or anything like that,” Sophomore Stacy Carol said.
“Our spiritually comes from what we choose to do to ourselves. Through body modification, we
can change how we see ourselves and the world around us. Not every member has a facial
piercing. You choose how you want to express your faith.”
The American Civil Liberty Union has agreed to defend Stacy at her discipline hearing.
They believe religious exemption is the more reasonable option rather than bringing it to court.
“Stacy has a solid case,” ACLU lawyer Sonia Stephens said. “It is in the best interest of
the school to allow her a religious exemption from the dress code. A court case could be costly
and lengthy.”
Unfortunately for Carol, not everyone is in support of her case.
“Just because a few people get together and call themselves a church doesn’t mean
they are one in the eyes of the law,” Constitutional lawyer Jett Ramirez said. “Heck in Australia,
there is a movement for a Jedi church.”
There are only two other students with religious exemptions to the dress code. Hijabs
are allowed despite the rule that prohibits hats and headwear.
“I don’t think you can compare the Muslim religion to the Church of Body Modification,”
junior Amina Shakuri said. “We have a rich and long history. There are more than a billion
Muslims worldwide. Our beliefs are documented. I don’t have a problem with Stacy’s lip
piercing, but comparing her lip piercing to my hijab is absurd.”
While Stacy claims her piercing is her right to exercise religion, according to Jett
Ramirez the first amendment has flaws.
“Most Americans would be surprised to learn just how little protection the First
Amendment provides for religious-freedom claims under the current law,” Ramirez said. “The
U.S. Supreme Court seriously weakened the reach of the free-exercise clause in 1990 by ruling
the government no longer must show a ‘compelling state interest’ before denying a religious
exemption to an otherwise neutral, generally applicable law.”

Who: ​Stacy Carol

What: ​The school will have a disciplinary hearing to remove Carol to the alternative school
Where: ​Where the hearing is located

When: ​April 10

Why: ​Stacy wears facial jewelry which is against Leaguetown ISD dress code

How: ​The ACLU agreed to defend Carol

Lead: ​After refusing to take off her facial piercing, Stacy Carol will attend a disciplinary hearing
on April 10 to discuss her first amendment right to exercise her religion through body
modification