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Student fears he'll get the hook at graduation over "fauxhawk"
Jacob Settle recently got for a Mohawk-style cut known as a fauxhawk, and now he's worried his new hairstyle could prevent him from giving the valedictory address. School administrators are "basically telling me it's against societal norms," says the honors student. "Something about, we have a conservative population, and I was representing the school." (St. Petersburg Times)
March 19, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
The "administrators" should watch Smash Lab. One of the guys on that show has one of those retarded hair cuts. It's not causing him problems (other than looking like an idiot)
Posted by: David | Mar 19, 2008 7:17:41 AM
Who gives a rat's ass what his hair looks like?
Also, my brother has a "faux hawk." It's not as tall as this guy's, but it looks good on him. He even goes to a Christian school and they don't have a problem with it.
Posted by: Lois Lane | Mar 19, 2008 7:20:36 AM
Thats right...let us all remember that who you are as a person is ALL ABOUT APPEARANCE! What is important is the way you look. I will hire the absolutely brainless blonde bombshell with a smokin bod, even though she can't do the work or form a complete sentence without the word "like"...but the valedictorian with the weird hair? Screw that, he can go work for McDonalds.
Posted by: Cherie | Mar 19, 2008 7:24:30 AM
ummm....isn't he a member of the community, population, school, etc.? And a Valedictorian? So, isn't he, umm, like indicative of "the societal norms" and stuff, simply by dint of his exsistence?
I dunno, maybe he should just join a gang and start doing drugs. What an outrageous, egregious, anti-societal display of a$$holery. A Fauxhawk. Next thing we'll know he'll be sacrificing kittens and worshipping Satan. All Hail, Dark One! Please, give me a break.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Mar 19, 2008 7:27:09 AM
How is that a fauxhawk? That's a full on mohawk. Not that really matters, i mean, come on he's giving the valedictorian address, what better role model could he be? Not like he's a brain dead jock that got a pass through classes.
Posted by: tfangel | Mar 19, 2008 7:36:46 AM
I think a 'mohawk' means that the sides are shaved rather than cut shorter. And THAT would be totally different. : )
This brings up last years discussion on the solemnity of graduation exercises. Some people are for bringing bull horns and fireworks to the graduation ceremony so that they can toast their t-shirt wearing mohawk-adorned crotch-fruit's passage out of high school. Others are for funerial reverence for their suit-wearing modestly-coifed pre-corpses meekly accepting their diplomas with a limp handshake.
Posted by: Sigh | Mar 19, 2008 7:48:33 AM
if he has brains in his head who cares what's on his head?!
Posted by: pawprints | Mar 19, 2008 7:50:45 AM
Yep, Forrest Gump was right.
Posted by: Jack | Mar 19, 2008 7:54:41 AM
Is this totally non-news or am I missing something? This is a kid accusing school administration of something he thinks they're thinking of maybe doing six next month.
Hey, I know -- I'll sue my boss because I think she's thinking about accusing me of spending too much time on the internet at work.
Posted by: Wrik | Mar 19, 2008 7:56:45 AM
I think is really cool that the valedictorian has the balls to do something different with his hair and "go agains social norms." The "conservative social norms" are f*cked up anyway--those "norms" are the reason why the economy is going down the toilet: Gotta have a big house, drive a nice car, have a planinum credit card. Then these people spend all this money and don't make enough to pay off the debt and they do all this just to "keep up with society's norms."
Posted by: twerp | Mar 19, 2008 8:10:21 AM
Don't you wear a graduation hat at a graduation ceremony, so how would anyone see his hair? unless he balances it on top, but if his fauxhawk can take that, then he needs to arrested for abusing AquaNet.
Posted by: The_Overdog | Mar 19, 2008 8:17:28 AM
Wrik - I don't think your analogy is accurate. If you read the article it sounds like the principal (and maybe other school administrators) has already commented on his hair. The principal claimed he was just joking, but when they pressed him further he wouldn't say the hair is not a factor, so I'm not sure he's being straight in his answer. All the kid is trying to do is find out if they are going to stop him from giving the valedictory address because of his hair. He doesn't want to find out in another month that they picked someone else because of his 'fauxhawk'.
A better analogy would be an employee who asks his boss if he is doing a good job because the boss has made some comments about his work recently and he wants to fix the problem before his next review.
Posted by: G-Man | Mar 19, 2008 8:19:13 AM
being gay goes against social norms also. would that prevent him from being valedictorian? oh wait, we are talking about faux hawks so he probably is gay.
Posted by: buddy | Mar 19, 2008 8:19:55 AM
I think its rather funny that he goes to Seminole HS and has a mowhawk (or fauxhawk).
Posted by: lawdog | Mar 19, 2008 8:25:47 AM
More petty authoritarian goodness.
However, don't most HS graduates wear mortarboard caps? That would cover up any number of hairstyling crimes, not just fauxhawks.
Posted by: Phranqlin | Mar 19, 2008 8:57:41 AM
G-man, I think you're right. And it points to the problem we have as a society about grey areas.
The graduation is in essence a theatrical event and for better or worse, the reality is that appearance counts. But if you tell a kid to get a haircut, you'll get sued, just the same way you'd get sued if you told a customer service field rep who worked for you that s/he has put on a lot of weight and needs to buy better fitting clothes.
The kid says he'd be fine about cutting his hair for graduation, and the imaginary employee would ultimately understand the wisdom of getting bigger shirts. So again, you're right G-man -- they would both want to fix the problem before the next review.
But the administrator/boss still can't say that stuff directly. And it would never appear in documentation. But it will matter. So as a boss, you have to drop hints. The kid and the imaginary employee would be wise to take them. We all have to learn to function and make decisions in the grey realm of the real world.
At that HS, valedictory goes to an extraordinary student chosen by adults to be held up as an example for the hopes and aspirations of the community. This kid is but one of the contenders, and others were described in the article.
I applaud the administrator for being as clear as he could possibly be, and the kid for understanding, perhaps better than some of our posters here, that the haircut doesn't really matter that much.
Perhaps it is non-news, but come to think of it there's an instructive lesson in there somewhere...
Posted by: Wrik | Mar 19, 2008 8:59:04 AM
from the picture, it looks like it is held up by gel anyway....whats the big deal? wash it, comb it...for one night and then do your thing.
Posted by: genonyc | Mar 19, 2008 9:07:16 AM
Did anyone else catch the fact that his hair was longer than shoulder length before getting the fauxhawk? Some would argue that long hair on a guy goes against societal norms - or at least it did at some point. Who gives a crap about his hair?
And hey Mr. Principal, you don't think that 'stereotypes' is a worthy topic for his speech? How about this? I think you're a (stereo)typical stick-in-the-mud, narrow-minded school administrator.
Let the kid speak - hawk or no, cap or no.
Posted by: SkyGrrl | Mar 19, 2008 9:57:44 AM
...ALL ABOUT APPEARANCE! What is important is the way you look. I will hire the absolutely brainless blonde bombshell with a smokin bod, even though she can't do the work or form a complete sentence without the word "like"...but the valedictorian with the weird hair?
Even though you're being sarcastic, you're right. EVERYONE bases things off of looks. Do you purposely choose to date a guy who is hideous? or handsome? Would you buy food that appears rotten? Would you wear wrinkled clothing, messed up hair, and have bad breath to a job interview? Regardless of what your answer is, you are still basing your judgement off of appearances.
The kid is free to express himself any way he wants. This much is true. He just can't complain when people don't agree with his form of expression.
Posted by: Naga Please! | Mar 19, 2008 10:02:07 AM
Frankly, I hope this little attention-seeking rabblerouser is booted from the ceremony. He needs to learn that actions have consequences. The only reason people get strange haircuts or tattoos or piercing is to call attention to themselves. I would never hire anyone who treats their body this way.
Posted by: Dick Tater | Mar 19, 2008 10:19:01 AM
I'll bet the principal has a comb over.
Posted by: A.V. | Mar 19, 2008 10:20:44 AM
Speaking of rotten food and appearances, my wife won't eat food if it's been in the 'frige too long, whereas I'll take a look and a smell test first. If there are no fuzzies and it smells OK, it's OK to eat.
Posted by: pnwguy (no relation) | Mar 19, 2008 11:26:44 AM
I'll take a look and a smell test first. If there are no fuzzies and it smells OK, it's OK to eat.
I use that same rule too, but I apply it only to women ;o)
Posted by: Naga Please! | Mar 19, 2008 11:28:05 AM
Thanks for that lovely mental image. Cheers!
Posted by: Soo | Mar 19, 2008 11:44:20 AM
Don't worry Tater. I don't think this kid who is graduating at the top of his class is going to be applying to your Walmart.
Posted by: G-Man | Mar 19, 2008 12:02:50 PM
DICK TATER:"Frankly, I hope this little attention-seeking rabblerouser is booted from the ceremony. He needs to learn that actions have consequences. The only reason people get strange haircuts or tattoos or piercing is to call attention to themselves. I would never hire anyone who treats their body this way."
maybe you shouldn't be in a position to hire anybody! (no offense... :) ) He is in highschool, what else is there to do than attempt to gather the attention of peers and administrators?
Also, doesn't this kid throw his case out the window when he says that he will cut his hair to be able to give the speech?
Posted by: auhlenhopp | Mar 19, 2008 12:50:36 PM
High-school is supposed to be about education, not grooming people for being shat upon by rich business owners. He should tell them he's going to comply, and then simply not show up.
All that matters is that record of graduation, so one can move on in life. Pageantry is for the weak :)
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | Mar 19, 2008 12:50:50 PM
I have a fairly odd, multi-colored, hairdo and have always warned prospective employers about it (because I remove the colors for job interviews)
so far it hasn't been a problem
in fact, when I get lazy and don't do my hair often enough people at work complain that I'm getting too conservative
it's not the hair, it's the skills
Posted by: Lambiepie | Mar 19, 2008 1:06:29 PM
I have a fairly odd, multi-colored, hairdo and have always warned prospective employers about it (because I remove the colors for job interviews)
Are you going to that many interviews?
Also what kind of jobs are you applying for?
Posted by: Naga Please! | Mar 19, 2008 2:20:57 PM
I looked at the pics and read the story. From the full-frontal shot, the first word that comes to mind isn't "valedictorian," it's "Alfalfa."
Posted by: Wolf | Mar 19, 2008 3:36:34 PM
Um . . . Does anyone else see the irony in a school committee from Seminole telling a student that they can't wear a Mohawk inspired haircut to his graduation?
I have a closer cut version of that haircut, my school system seems to be fine with it.
In fact a lot of the students like the fact that I'm a bit more able to relate to them through my hairstyles.
How about we go down to Hershey, PA and outlaw cocoa as a winter drink? That'll show society we're not screwing around, won't it?
Posted by: Passing Through | Mar 20, 2008 3:45:11 AM
thats definitely a mohawk. you can have very short hair on the sides.
fauxhawks look totally different.
Posted by: boynamedsue | Mar 20, 2008 9:48:45 AM
Having inspected the photos I think he'd be better off not worrying about his hair and spend a little time with a qualified dermatologist.
Its not looking too bad now, but he's definitly got the type of skin that'll go pepperoni pizza on you overnight.
Posted by: nellagain | Mar 20, 2008 10:15:22 AM
