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ACLU: Student sent home for wearing Colts jersey

by Michael Luke / Eyewitness News

Posted on February 5, 2010 at 4:53 PM

Updated Friday, Feb 5 at 4:57 PM

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NEW ORLEANS – A student at a Maurepas school was sent home by the principal for refusing to take off an Indianapolis Colts jersey, according to a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union.

“(T)he Principal of Maurepas High School, which had declared that students could wear jerseys in support of the New Orleans Saints, punished a student for wearing a jersey in support of the Indianapolis Colts,” said ACLU Executive Director Margie Esman in an e-mail.

“The student, who had lived most of his life in Indianapolis and has an outstanding academic record, was called out of class and told that he was not allowed to wear that shirt. When he refused to change his shirt, the principal sent him home.”

This prompted the ACLU of Louisiana to take up the case of the student.

Esman said she sent a letter to Principal Steven Vampran, demanding that the unnamed student’s tarnished record is restored and the school erase any disciplinary action.

“To allow students to express support of one team but not the other amounts to forcing support of the team that the Principal likes,” said Esman. “As excited as people are about the Saints going to the Super Bowl, students like everyone else have the right to choose which team they prefer.”

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bluerunner said on February 5, 2010 at 5:29 PM

The principle shoud have let everyone wearing a Saints shirt line up in the hallway and kick him in the rear on the way out! He must be the dumbest smart student at that school.

keeyontreh04 said on February 5, 2010 at 5:47 PM

you should be able to support whatever team you choose .

commonsense304 said on February 5, 2010 at 5:50 PM

Aw c'mon, bluerunner, give the kid a break. If any of us Whodats ever got transplanted to, say, Boston, do you think we'd suddenly morph into Pats fans? No way! Just look at how far Whodat loyalty lives even now. Record this day in the history books, 'cuz for once I actually agree with the ACLU.

westbankjeff said on February 5, 2010 at 5:52 PM

I don't care what you think of the Colts, that was entirely uncalled for and for a person in that kind of authority to take that position is just really foolish. The principal and anyone involved on his side should be disciplined.

wan2b_successful said on February 5, 2010 at 6:05 PM

What some of you all are failing to realize is that the principle did the right thing. Just imagine if you were in a certain neighbor hood and you wasn't apart of the gang in that area, they will beat you down. I say the principle saved him from getting jumped on. I agree with bluerunner, he has got to be the dumbest smart kid at the school. Now if he had worn a jersey that wasn't in the Super Bowl that would have been ok.

wan2b_successful said on February 5, 2010 at 6:09 PM

*Principal

thedoll59 said on February 5, 2010 at 6:19 PM

Contrary to what people believe in this state, not everyone is a Saints fan. That does not make them unamerican. What is wrong with these people. Who died and made them God over everyone in this state. People are out of control over this. Take note New Orleans. If the Saints do win, police in New Orleans had better be prepared. They will loot, shoot and burn. It's New Orleans and they know no better. Look what they did after Katrina. Loot, shoot and burn.

michyln said on February 5, 2010 at 6:30 PM

If the students were given specific dress code instructions that students could wear black and gold and/or saints shirts instead of their normal uniforms, then she had the right to enforce dress code rules. He could have worn his normal school attire if he did not want to support the Saints.

bpatterson said on February 5, 2010 at 6:32 PM

At public high schools in that area they are required to wear uniforms. When they do decide to give liberties for what ever the occasion may be, they give it with rules. Today it was BLACK and GOLD day. I can't say for sure what their particular rules today were but the student didn't have to participate if he didn't want to wear the black and gold. He could have just worn his school uniform. However if you break the rules you will be reprimanded. Its just common sense.

loveit said on February 5, 2010 at 6:48 PM

Ok really people. My daughter attends Maurepas and earlier in the week Steve (the principal) made it EXTREMELY clear that today was Saints, black and gold day. No other color shirts were to be worn either your uniform shirt or the black and gold saints shirt. Not even pink saints shirts. I do believe a big deal is being made of this for no reason. It wasn't because he wore a Colts shirt. Don't ya'll believe there is way more to worry about than this issue. The kid didn't go to jail his record I'm sure is not tarnished. This is a bit overboard. It's ok that not everyone is a Saints fan, the world is not going to end. But realize it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with the DRESS CODE that was not only done at Maurepas school but at others in our parish and other parishes also.

rdcvette said on February 5, 2010 at 6:49 PM

What idiots on this blog! I am a true die hard WHO DAT, but the principal is an idiot. There is no way he was thinking about the student's welfare, he was just being clueless.....

tbimm said on February 5, 2010 at 6:54 PM

To Thedoll59, Thanks for showing your ignorance to the ways of Saints fans. After the NFC Championship game there was no violence. After the Saints win the Superbowl there will be no violence. That is not how we celebrate here. I hope to see you back here on Monday morning eating crow for what amounts to a stupid comment!

bookworm2233 said on February 5, 2010 at 7:01 PM

Im a student at Maurepas and i think this was VERY stupid. Our principal is gonna let us have or do anything fun because one person ALWAYS has to take it that one step further. It was BLACK AND GOLD day. He could have easily worn his regular school uniform. And the whole “The student, who had lived most of his life in Indianapolis and has an outstanding academic record.." that's stupid. What does being smart have to do with breaking the rules...nothing! I think this STUDENT (and we all know who he is) was just trying to be a little rude and ruff the rest of us up because were all very excited. Im glad he got sent home and i hope its hard for him to come back!!!!

breesiskillinem said on February 5, 2010 at 7:02 PM

That kid should be given wedgies for the remainder of the school year for such insolence. He should be hung from the flagpole by his tighty whities and tarred black with gold feathers. :-D GEAUX SAINTS!!!!!!!

happymeal said on February 5, 2010 at 7:15 PM

ACLU, again making something out of nothing just to make headlines.

eznews said on February 5, 2010 at 7:30 PM

For a group of people who can't quit complaining about Obama's "socialist" plans, alot of you folks sure sound like communist dictators that suppress freedom of speech.

diablo55 said on February 5, 2010 at 7:33 PM

The student is a Colts fan. Let's be honest, many of us are Colts fans when we aren't Saints fans. I think we should cut both of them some slack. A principal's job requires that he uphold rules, and I think this has been blown way out of proportion. Perhaps, he could be allowed to wear his Colts jersey next week. In the meantime...WHODAT!

happy2be said on February 5, 2010 at 9:14 PM

OMG...now i'm a big saints fan but come on a blind person can see that this student had the right to wear a colts jersey too...it's a real shame how far some people will take little things...if school is an insititute of higher learning then i think it's high time the pricipal should practice the lesson of diversity...how silly...if it was just a saints support day then it should have been stated that only saints clothes were allowed ...if so the student should have worn his required uniform..

loveit said on February 5, 2010 at 9:31 PM

Happy2be, it was told to the kids earlier in the week that it was a Saints day or they had to wear their uniform. This child chose to do what he wanted to do. If he would have asked the principal if he could wear it he probably would have let him.

nunyabidness said on February 5, 2010 at 10:26 PM

The kid was NOT sent home for 'wearing a Colts shirt', he was sent home for being in violation of the dress code, and refusing to change. The students were given the option of wearing either their uniform shirt, or a Saints shirt; NOT either their uniform shirt or just any random other shirt. If he didn't want to wear a Saints shirt, that's his choice and he did not have to, he could have worn his uniform shirt (I'm fairly certain that not EVERY SINGLE CHILD wore a Saints shirt, many were probably in full uniform). Instead, he chose to wear something that he was not allowed to, refused to change into something that complied with the dress code, and was sent home for that. If he had decided to wear a pink t-shirt with nothing printed on it, the outcome would have been the same.

zensunnioracle said on February 5, 2010 at 10:49 PM

The ACLU is in the right for this one. I'm a transplant surrounded by Tampa Bay fans who are very eager to show it. I have a lot of pride walking on gameday and days before wearing my Saints jersey, hat, or whatever I chose for that day. I support my team and this kid was doing the exact same thing. It's just a game and there are 2 sides to the game. You want to take away that kid's right to support his team, then you're walking over my right to support the Saints where I live, and I take huge offense to that. Good sportsmanship starts off the field. I hope the ACLU wins and wins big.

metryrogue said on February 6, 2010 at 12:45 AM

This is the only time I've agreed with the ACLU. The kid should not have been sent home, even though the Saints are gonna win. The principal was a bad sport.

brokeithx said on February 6, 2010 at 3:35 AM

If a kid don't want to wear this racist symbol of slavery, that's his perogative, but the slavemaster is so used to having his way, he forgets about the rights of others who are not slaves.

westbankjeff said on February 6, 2010 at 6:41 AM

LISTEN PEOPLE! eznews said on February 5, 2010 at 6:30 PM For a group of people who can't quit complaining about Obama's "socialist" plans, alot of you folks sure sound like communist dictators that suppress freedom of speech. This is the smartest thing I think I have heard in the thread. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES! I have heard one person on here saying that they "hope it's hard for him to come back!". What the hell are you thinking??? Why don't the lot of you go back to watching Faux 'news' and protesting about how you think everyone who doesn't agree with you is a socialist liberal. And guess what, I'm not even a liberal! I love the Lord Jesus, HE is the Christ, just so anyone gets any ideas that I am some lib. But enough about my character.. You people have taken Who Dat fever TO FAR! Yall all need to take a step back, put down your beer, and just look at yourselves. It's a GAME people, its a game. I know its an epic and incredible game, but its a game.

slparr said on February 6, 2010 at 8:58 AM

The principal DID SAY "in support of the New Orleans Saints"!!! Sooo...I think it was right for him to take it off!! Sounds like just another SMART A** KID if you ask me!! And...why does the ACLU & the NAACP ALWAYS have to get into the Kool-aid??? GEAUX SAINTS...WHO DAT!!

bmabatz641 said on February 6, 2010 at 10:46 AM

I am a teacher in Indianapolis, and I work for Indianapolis Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Indiana. I read an interesting article in our paper about a former resident, Brandon Frost, who is now a student in the Louisiana school for which Mr. Vampran serves as the administrator. Friday was blue & white day in Indiana (for our Colts), and Indianapolis Public Schools waived the dress code for our students so they could participate in the activities and show their spirit for our great football team. Yes, we told our students it was "blue and white" day, and most of our students wore those colors and/or a Colts jersey; however, we had a handful of students who did not. Those who did not chose to wear the colors of our opponent, the "Saints." Mr. Vampran, unlikwe you, we allowed those students to stay in school. We believe in the rights granted to each individual through the Constitution What you did was unacceptable, especially as an educator.

fujitafan1 said on February 6, 2010 at 2:36 PM

The principal issued a different dress code for one day. That is the right of the prinicipal. If you do not follow it, you suffer the consequences. Period.

kylas said on February 7, 2010 at 7:07 AM

I view it in another way. Remember when your classmates would pressure you to do something? Peer pressure an issue? The kids could have been pressuring everyone not going to wear saints colors. Which would have meant more face & reputation hits then losing prom king or queen elections. His response was probably-I don't want to respond but must. As a Colts fan he didn't want to show any loyalty to the Saints. The school chose to open it up for Saints only -an inappropriate action by the way. Instead of just the saints - it should have been a celebration of all NFL teams with jerseys allowed to be worn. As to remarks given by the Principal to the student - poor judgment. What should happen next? We have the Super Bowl & the school wears regular uniforms from this point on. And this comes from a Colts Fan too!

reeree01 said on February 8, 2010 at 6:56 AM

my neice goes to school in Indianapolis and on friday they got to where Colts colors and jersey too. She likes the Saints and ask if she could where her Saints shirt we sent her, They told her no and if she did they would send her home. My sister didn't let her where it . Maybe this child should have been as smart as my 10 year old neice and asked frist!

commentstrue said on February 8, 2010 at 7:30 AM

How this ever reached the news is beyond me. First, the school was biased in changing their dress code. Second, they assumed everyone was for the saints. Third, I hate the ACLU but for once I think they did what was right for the kid. I wonder if New Orleans is going to hang Archie Manning becaue he publicly stated he was for the colts instead of the saints after he has been on the news in support of the saints so many times. This world is going to the dogs and bringing our children up as the dogs. Sick, sick, sick!

joanna040572 said on February 8, 2010 at 5:20 PM

We are trying to teach our children that our country is fighting for our freedom and then this principal shows this child that he doesn't have the freedom to choose which football team to support. And the child was punished????? What is this world coming to.