A high school in Harrisburg, North Carolina doesn’t mess around when it comes to their strict dress code. Students are expected to obey Hickory Ridge High School’s dress code; if they don’t — they could find themselves sitting out of graduation.
That’s exactly what happened to one senior honor roll student named Summer. She was suspended for 10 days and held back from any student activities — including graduation — all because of a shirt.
This wasn’t the first time the school has taken action due to a breach in dress code. Earlier in the school year, Hickory Ridge sent 45 students to the principal’s office simply for wearing leggings with shirts that weren’t deemed “long enough.”
The major controversy to this story isn’t whether or not Summer was violating the dress code, in fact — she admits that she was. She covered herself up and was still issued a 10-day suspension.
“I completely understand why a dress code is put into place but I feel like after I put on that jacket it should have been subdued,” Summer said to a local news station.
Summer’s shirt was slightly off the shoulders, as seen in the picture above; her back was exposed as well. She was told to put cover up, and at first refused — stating that her shirt was perfectly fine.
After a friend offered Summer a jacket, she agreed and put it on, zipping it up to cover her shoulders and back. This, however, wasn’t’ enough to save her from disciplinary action. She was asked to change again.
The honor roll student requested that her mother is called before doing anything further. They were unable to reach her.
Summer refused to go with the principal, and she was threatened to be arrested.
“I stayed in my seat just like a lot of role models that I have looked up to stayed in their seats,” she says. ‘I mean, you have to stand up for what you believe in.”
Before they were able to handcuff her, Summer’s mother was in contact with the school. Summer was then issued the suspension from school and all activities, including graduation.
The honor roll student with a 4.4 GPA and full scholarship was denied the privilege of walking across the stage for graduation.
The principal is considering expelling the student for her actions, and her mother is fighting hard for an appeal. Summer says she understands the enforcement of a dress code, but this is her future.
“This is my life, I’m on a pre-med track,” she says. “A full ride means so much and that is on the line right now.”
Did the school take disciplinary action a bit too far? Or were their actions justified? The full news story below.
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