Honor Student With 4.4 GPA Suspended Over Long Sleeve Shirt, Can't Graduate With Peers

A senior at Hickory Ridge High School in Harrisburg, North Carolina fears her future is in jeopardy, and it's all because of a shirt.

According to an NBC affiliate in North Carolina, Summer wore a long sleeve green shirt that exposed her collarbone on Wednesday. During lunch period, she was approached by her principal who asked if she had a jacket.

In the suspension notice from Hickory Ridge High School, the principal told Summer to cover up with a jacket.  The report stated Summer responded with, "I think my shirt is fine.” The principal then told Summer that her lower back was also completely exposed, so she was not in compliance with dress code. Summer repeated again, "My shirt is fine."

According to the report, a friend offered to loan her a jacket.

"I pulled it up, put the jacket over it, zipped up the jacket," Summer said. The principal then told the teen she would have to go to the control room to change her clothes.

"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 in the report.

Summer said she and the principal have had a number of issues during her four years at the school and there was tension. Summer said her mother recently instructed the school administrators to call her before taking any sort disciplinary action against the teen. So, when the principal asked Summer to go to the control room, the student remained seated.

"They can't take me anywhere unless my mother is called," Summer said. "So I said 'I apologize, I can't go anywhere with you unless my mom is called."

But neither Summer nor the principal was able to reach her mother. The lunch period ended and Summer accompanied dozens of her friends to the auditorium. Shortly after, she claims the principal entered the room and ordered everyone to leave except for Summer.

"[The SRO] was within five feet of me, he had his hand on his gun. [The principal] said 'I'm gonna give you an ultimatum. We have tried to call your mother. You either come with me to the control room to change your shirt or we will arrest you."

Summer claimed she remained seated and tried to contact her mother.

"I stayed in my seat just like a lot of role models that I have looked up to stayed in their seats," she said. 'I mean, you have to stand up for what you believe in."

Summer said the principal then instructed the SRO to arrest Summer. Summer then went to the control room with school administrators. Yahoo reported that Summer was given a 10-day suspension, and cannot attend any senior activities including her own graduation.

"It's just sad because I worked so hard for four years to walk across that stage," she told the NBC affiliate. "We have drug dealers walking across that stage, we have sex offenders walking across that stage and then the 4.4 student who showed her shoulders can't."

Summer is a senior is an honor roll student with a 4.4 GPA. She has a full scholarship to a major university. She said her principal is considering expelling her.

[WCNC]