Indiana School Officials Say DIMEBAG T-Shirt Violates Policy

Carmen McCollum of Indiana's NWITimes.com has issued the following report:

A woman is angry with the Lake Central School District because school officials contend her son's shirt is inappropriate and violates school policy.

Debra Briones, of Schererville, Indiana, said her son, Timothy, 17, is a junior at the school. She said he wore a shirt recently that depicted a picture of a heavy metal guitarist named "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, someone he looks up to.

According to a Web dictionary, a dime bag refers to a small plastic bag of heroin that usually costs $10.

Abbott, 38, who formed a band called DAMAGEPLAN, was killed while performing in a heavy-metal rock concert on Dec. 8, 2004 in Columbus, Ohio. Three others also were killed during the concert when a man ran up on stage and began a shooting rampage. The man was eventually shot and killed by police.

Briones said her son learned how to play the guitar by watching Abbott, and looks up to him as a role model.

Timothy was called into the office of Tim Powers, sophomore dean of students, on Friday on another matter, Debra Briones said. Timothy said he was asked to turn his shirt inside out.

He did not, returned to class and was not disciplined.

"I've worn this shirt many times since I got it for Christmas," he said, adding this was the first time anyone said anything.

Lake Central School Superintendent Janet Emerick said the policy regarding apparel is clear and is applicable to all students within the district.

"Any apparel or item that alludes to drugs, alcohol, sex, the occult, gangs, profanity or which are offensive to ethnic or racial groups is prohibited," she read from the policy.

Emerick said the student handbook, including school policies, is distributed at the beginning of the school year. She declined to discuss specific students.

His mother went to the school the next day to bring in articles about Abbott to show what a "good guy" he was, and discuss how much her son admired the guitarist.

"The principal wouldn't even look at it," she said.

When asked what she ultimately wants, Briones said she'd like for her son to be able to wear his shirt to school, and that his First Amendment rights not be violated.