Wed Jan 16, 5:04 PM ET WASHINGTON - A high school track star has been disqualified from a meet because officials said the custom-made outfit she wears to conform to her Muslim faith violated competition rules. Juashaunna Kelly, a senior at the District of Columbia's Theodore Roosevelt High School, has the fastest mile and 2-mile times of any girl runner in the city this winter. She was disqualified from Saturday's Montgomery Invitational indoor track and field meet. Kelly was wearing the same uniform she has worn for three seasons while running for Theodore Roosevelt's cross-country and track teams. The custom-made, one-piece blue and orange unitard covers her head, arms, torso and legs. Over the unitard, she wears the same orange and blue T-shirt and shorts as her teammates. The outfit allows her to compete while adhering to her Muslim faith, which forbids displaying any skin other than her face and hands.
Law & Ethics - 6 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
My initial reaction is that anyone that wears anything other than the assigned uniform is violating said rules. That said, i respect her desire to conform to her religion but she also has to conform to competition rules.
2 :
I think that is ridiculous - she is not going to get an edge by wearing a skin tight uniform as she is wearing the same clothing the others wear over the top - Im in Australia and remember Kathy Freeman running the 100m in the Olympics in a uniform or costumer very much like what your talking about - it was ok for the Olympics so why not a school meet?? Stupid!!
3 :
She needs to remake her uniform to one color.. she has to adhere to the rules regardless if she wants to run.. they are not saying she can't wear the leotard, they understand why she wears it... it just has to be one solid color- instead of one sleeve blue and one orange.. they both need to be the same color
4 :
Disqualifying her was in really bad taste, I am not sure if it violated her 1st amendment rights though. I would like to see why they felt like it was a violation. More clothes would seem to be a henderence to her running, not an advantage. I am sure there will be a lawsuit over this.
5 :
IMO, her rights (PROVIDED THAT SHE IS A LEGAL RESIDENT OF THE U.S.A.) were violated, especially since there has been precedent set for three seasons prior. Where is ACLU when they are _needed_??
6 :
If taking PRAY out of our schools, not allowing our children to have 'Christmas' plays, or Easter plays, is NOT a violation of the 1st Amendment, then her being barred is ALSO not a violation. SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. It is offending to Christians to have to "see" her dressed differently BECAUSE of her RELIGION. What's good for the goose, is good for the gander
