Staff Writer

Graphic by Haley Madigan

In a high school filled with almost 3,000 students, it is difficult to “stand out” or be original. There are so many different fashion fads going around that I don’t personally care about; however, facial piercings and tattoos are another story.

Occasionally when walking through the halls I will see a student with a facial piercing, either on their lip or their nose. According to the dress code, piercings are allowed at the principle’s discretion. More often it is a double piercing in the ears or gauges, which are usually more acceptable than other piercings.

There are very few students who actually have the facial piercings, but I respect the ones who do. They are the ones who are not afraid of judgment from anyone else and are expressing themselves in a way for everyone to see.

I feel whatever we the students do to alter our appearance is done simply to make a point, or because we enjoy how something looks.  A lip ring is harmless, and to me it is just another feature on someone’s face. I like piercings on certain people, and if a student can pull off the piercing then good for them.

Everyone should have the choice to change whatever he or she wants about themselves if it makes them truly happy and not be judged by others. There are always going to be people who live to put down people brave enough to show their personality, but at the end of the day, who cares if one person doesn’t like your lip ring?

The same goes for tattoos and hair color; I think that the school dress code is too strict when it comes to hair color (even though they allow piercings and some tattoos). Saying that it would be a distraction to other students is an overstatement. Just because a girl in my class has pink hair does not mean I am going to stare at it to the point that I do not do my own work.

Since tattoos are a permanent feature, unlike dyed hair or piercings, I am less approving of them. Still, if someone wants to go and pay to be permanently inked then they should have the right to do so in our school. Because we are still in high school, I would advise against it because it is permanent, and it would be difficult to get a professional job when people judge you based on your tattoos.

I am all for people expressing their personality and showing how they feel by piercing their lip or nose; it is inevitable that soon the student will outgrow it, but for the time being I think it is acceptable. Being a teenager is a time for teens to go and do something extreme (within the law) like getting a piercing just because they want to or to go out and do something stupid, so they can learn from their mistakes.

Piercings are just another way to vamp up your personality, just like a new haircut or double piercing your ears. Students have the right to do what they want to if they truly believe it will make them look better or if they are just trying to make it a point. I know how it feels to have the needle go through your lip and I remember the looks I got when I had a lip ring.

If other people want to pierce themselves, I do not see why it should be a problem or why other people should care whether or not they have a piercing. You are entitled to your own opinion, but you should not try to change other people just because you do not like it.

Motorcycle riders aren't the only ones with tattoos anymore. Graphic by Scott Bennett

Despite growing up in a tattoo free household and one that is to remain forever tattoo free, I’ve found myself wanting to get some of that permanent ink etched into my skin. There’s only one big problem; according to the law, I’m too young to get one. I’m not talking about the law so much as I’m talking about the responsibility which comes with having a tattoo.

Dealing with getting an infectious disease such as HIV or Hepatitis B or C isn’t the only problem a tattoo could potentially bring about. I’d also have to deal with looks and stares I get from the people around me. And what about getting a job? How would a tattoo look to a potential boss?

Considering tattoos are used as gang insignia and also as identification markers in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, it is not surprising people often question someone with tattoos.  We’ve all seen that person walking down the street that’s coated in tattoos and thought the worst of them.

Stores I’ve been to such as Hot Topic has employees that may have multiple piercings and dyed hair along with tattoos.  Ordinarily I’d expect someone like that to be of questionable character but upon talking to them, I realize that they’re like any normal person and are actually pretty nice. Despite their odd appearance, they’ve also obviously been able to get a job.

Some of my best teachers have had tattoos.  Of course it was only usually an ankle or wrist tattoo, but occasionally I would still hear the mutters of students sounding disapproving of the ink.

Even in public, if I see someone that has tattoos decorating their arms, I’ll notice the stares that they get from other people. I mean, it’s the 21^st century and there are mummies from 2000 BC with tattoos on their bodies. I think it’s high time that society accepts tattoos given that they’ve been around so long.

It is not just tattoos receiving judgmental looks from people; piercings and dyed hair get as many stares if not more than a person with dyed hair. In such new times where seeing these things is almost routine, people should not be surprised to see someone with bright pink hair, pierced eyebrows or tattoos running up and down their arms.

Changes in physical appearance are seen throughout society today and societies of the past. By now, people should be more accepting of the “fresh” looks that citizens around the world desire. Whether its tattoos, dying your hair, or just getting your ears pierced, society needs to get used to seeing these changes.