When she chose her school outfit Monday morning, Laura Anderson didn’t think she was dressing for a fight.

The 17-year-old Lucas secondary school student, a member of the student council, was sent home after morning announcements for an outfit a vice-principal called “inappropriate.”

Anderson was wearing ripped jeans and a tank top. The Grade 12 student will attend Queen’s University in the fall, with a major in English, but had to miss a lecture on Hamlet while she went home to change.

As the communications officer for the student council, she read the morning announcements before being hauled into the vice-principal’s office. The vice-principal, Linda Weir, told her the outfit was inappropriate.

“There was nothing wrong with it. Especially in this heat, I don’t believe this kind of restriction should be there,” Anderson said. “I believe that the over-sexualization of women in our school creates such a toxic environment for our young teenagers.”

On Wednesday, her peers — boys and girls — plan to wear tank tops and ripped jeans as a protest on Anderson’s behalf. They’ll also be sporting signs that say dress codes tell girls their bodies are “inherently sexual” and send the message that girls aren’t entitled to respect until they cover up.

A petition has also been started online to change the Lucas dress code, and the hashtag #MyBodyMyBusiness lit up Twitter by Monday evening.

“I’m not a social justice person, but if I know something is wrong, I will speak up,” Anderson said. “I don’t really care that (the vice-principal) told me to go home. Now it’s about those Grade 9 girls who don’t have the confidence to stand up for themselves and that don’t know that this is wrong.”

Lucas principal Tom McLeod said the dress code is reviewed every year and is written with input from the school council made up of parents.

“Our dress code is pretty open-ended. We don’t suspend students, we’re trying to get them to where they need to be and usually a tuck or a roll down does the trick,” McLeod said. “We don’t get into inches or anything like that, but all undergarments have to be covered.”

Anderson said she was told by Weir that her tank top was too sheer. Anderson disputes that, and says she wore a bandeau over her bra under the top.

“In the end, it’s like a workplace. We have 1,400 students and 100 staff who come here every day. What may seem appropriate in the eyes of a teenager may not be for a workplace,” McLeod said.

Anderson said her tank top passed the “two-finger rule,” meaning the straps were the width of two fingers.

Students wearing inappropriate clothing are given the option of going home to change or to put on something else they may have in their locker, McLeod said.

Anderson had to call her dad to let her come home to change. Her father was outraged, she said, and she felt degraded. She came back to school in different jeans and a baggy T-shirt.

“I was bawling my eyes out,” she said. “I don’t consider myself outrageous in my dress, but if it’s hot, I’m going to wear a tank top. (The administrators’) mindset is that it’s too distracting and we need to respect ourselves. If boys can’t handle the way we dress, we don’t need to change our outfit, they need to change their perspective.”

In fact, some boys are taking part in Wednesday’s tank-and-jeans protest, offended that adults would think they can’t concentrate around certain clothing, Anderson said.

“My body is my business, and I think it’s a fundamental human right to respect that,” she said.

McLeod said there are other ways to protest the dress code, such as going to the school council or student council.

“I think there’s some misinformation out there about what happened,” McLeod said. “I hope there are conversations going on at home. Parents can go to the school council with their concerns. The student council can help us come and say what the next steps should be. If you want something changed, follow the process.”

Anderson said students want to be part of the change.

Kate.dubinski@sunmedia.ca

Twitter.com/KateatLFPress

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Lucas secondary school’s “dress expectations,” from the school website:

“Clothing must not be inappropriately revealing and free of profane or vulgar language. Shirts must cover the midriff and the back.”

No references to drugs, alcohol, sex, demeaning or offensive slogans.

“All shorts and skirts should be past the fingertips of your outstretched hands. Skirts, shorts and pants should completely cover undergarments.”

Pants must be able to stay up at the waist.

No hats or head wear. Hats may be confiscated if worn in school. Only headwear worn for religious or medical reasons is exempt.

“Administration will determine what is considered to be appropriate dress for school. Students who do not conform to this guideline will not be allowed to attend classes and will be sent home to change.”

ONLINE: Ashlyn Nicolle, one of Laura Anderson’s friends and supporters, started a petition on change.orgto get Lucas to reconsider the dress code. By Monday evening, the petition had 380 signatures.

“If no students are offended by the way she’s dressing, and if the teachers are, then we should be teaching them not to sexualize teenage bodies,” Nicolle told The Free Press.

SAMPLE TWEETS:

“Lucas ladies never go down without a fight, and we aren’t afraid to prove that #MyBodyMyBusiness” @rachelreparon

“Honestly loving the girl power that’s being shown by Lucas!! Not my problem if my shoulder distracts you.. #MyBodyMyBusiness” @naaat_09

“Not only is this disrespecting the women of Lucas, but is making the men look like dogs.” #MyBodyMyBusiness @taaywelsh

“If school is such a ‘safe’ environment why are we putting down and slut shaming girls bc of their clothes?” #teamLaura #MyBodyMyBusiness @lordepizza

“A girl needs empowerment, not more complications in her relationships with her body #MyBodyMyBusiness” @mandybirch19