Piercing Accusations

Clayton High School officials have told Ariana Iacono not to come back to school unless she removes a small stud from her nose. The dress code for the North Carolina school bars facial piercings, but it also says the school will make "reasonable accommodations" to the dress code for students with "a sincerely held religious belief." The Iaconos are members of the Church of Body Modification, a 10-year-old church that claims about 3,500 members nationwide, that advocates piercing, tattoos, and scarification. But so far school officials have refused their request for a waiver.