Omaha schools ban most forms of indivudalism.

As of today, the highschool systems of Omaha NE, starting with Bellvue West and East, have BANNED many forms of expressive but in NO WAY offensive clothing.

This is the Omaha World Herald article.

Published Friday January 6, 2006 Irate students rip into jeans rule BY VERONICA STICKNEY
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Danielle Morrow is not happy.

Danielle Morrow, 17, was sent home from Bellevue East High School today because of ripped jeans. "I'm so mad about it," Morrow said.

The 17-year-old senior at Bellevue East High School has had the jeans for months, and she wore them plenty of times last semester.

This morning, school administrators asked her to change.

"I'm so mad about it," Morrow said in the school's parking lot, clicking shut a cell phone. She had been talking to a friend - who also had been asked to change.

The problem?

Morrow's jeans were ripped - purposely by the manufacturer. It's the latest fashion trend for teenagers, many Bellevue East students said.

The school district, though, has had a dress code for many years that prohibits soiled, torn or ragged clothing, said district spokeswoman Cathy Williams. The policy is outlined in the parent-student handbook. All other schools in the district have enforced the policy.

About 100 students in ripped jeans - both boys and girls - were asked to change when they arrived at school this morning. Administrators called the students' parents, who then either brought their child an acceptable pair of pants or gave the OK to go home and change.

Chelsea Dean, a 16-year-old junior, hadn't yet been spotted, as she sat with friends at a table in the commons room before school.

She quickly crossed her legs and placed her hand over a large hole above her knee, as an administrator ordered three students nearby to head home and switch pants.

"I don't think it's fair," said Dean, who as a cheerleader often wears a short skirt to school. "It's our style, and it's not inappropriate."

Many students were frustrated on Tuesday when they returned from winter break. That day, school officials began asking students to change out of the trendy jeans. About six to eight students have been asked to change each day this week, Williams said, though several students placed that number at about 15 each day.

Word spread among students that they should all wear ripped jeans today, Dean said, to see if officials would really ask all of them to change.

They did.

But the crackdown isn't out of the blue, Williams said. On Nov. 17, officials began announcing the enforcement of the dress code over the public address system. Students knew, Williams said, that as of this week they were not to wear ripped clothing.

Junior Ashley Murphy, who also sported ripped jeans today, is frustrated by what she sees as a double standard. Some students wear fishnet stockings to school, she said, revealing more skin than the jeans do.

Many of the jeans have a variety of large and small holes. The holes are usually filled in by loose, white, denim fibers.

Though pants with small holes might not be distracting or revealing, the Bellevue district has an across-the-board policy, Williams said, to avoid dealing with students on a case-by-case basis.

"It's very clear direction," she said. "No holes at all."

Neither the Omaha nor Millard school district has an across-the-board policy. Each district leaves dress code enforcement to principals, spokeswomen for both districts said. Neither has had an issue with ripped jeans.

Several Bellevue East students were upset with the sudden enforcement of the code at their school.

"How come for the last three years I've been there they've never sent anyone home for holes in their jeans?" Dean said.

Williams said Bellevue East administrators had been lax in holding students to the dress code and realized they should step up their patrol.

"It was important the dress code be enforced," she said. Officials are also watching for student use of cell phones and iPods in school.

An associate at one local clothing store wasn't surprised by the Bellevue students' reaction.

Ripped jeans have been on the scene for the last year and a half, said Cali Jones of Plato's Closet, a "gently used" clothing store geared to teenagers. They have been really hot for six months.

"They're very popular," Jones said, "as long as they look really worn."

Lisa Kinney's jeans didn't look that worn this morning but were ripped in spots.

The Bellevue East sophomore dug keys out of her bag in the school parking lot, so she could go home and change.

"It's stupid," she said. "You can wear short shorts or something else. (The jeans) are not scandalous or anything."

Now, that obviously states that the 'jeans' in question weren't showing underwear or anything offensive. Just simply ripped clothing. I've also heard from students that jeans aren't the only thing. They've gone as far as to ban:

ripped and clothes with holes

patched clothes

bright makeup

bright hair colors

facial piercings

tatoos

And it's even a rumor that that they will be limiting the number of ear piercings.

......

THAT FUCKING VIOLATES THE 1ST AMMEDMENT ASSHOLES!

Unless the clothes show public nudity, which is a state or federal law, they arent allowed to regulate such things! Thats discrimination! And even if they get this passed, what the hell are they going to do? Pay for students new clothing and laser tattoo removal? This is fucking ludicrous. It is so trying to smother personal identity. Lawers have already recieved many calls from parents and students. At this very moment I am taking steps to organize a protest. This will not stand!