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Winamac
Posted: 6:33 PM Oct 4, 2007
 Last Updated: 4:03 PM Oct 5, 2007
 Reporter: Alana Greenfogel
Email Address: Alana.Greenfogel@wndu.com
14 comments
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For some professional athletes, their hair is as well known as their skills.

The same is true for Brandan Geise, but unlike the pros, he does not want the attention he is getting.

Brandan is a senior at Winamac Community High School and he is a soccer player. Well, he was.

"The athletic director told me I had to cut my hair or I wouldn't be able to play," Brandan says.

Brandan grew, what he calls, a mohawk this summer.

"I like it. It's different."

"A mohawk haircut is not in the best image that we're trying to promote," said superintendent Dr. Bob Klitzman. He says a mohawk brings in attention and takes away from the team spirit.

"That's not the place for individuality and there are places for that, but not in the context of an athletic contest," explains Klitzman.

Brandan still goes to every game and watches from the sidelines. He hopes, since he cannot play, to at least help change the hair policy for kids in the future.
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Posted by: Zack Location: Winamac on Oct 10, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Myself and about 30 others attended the school board meeting and heard Brandon's request to the board, his father also spoke and even a teacher stood up for him, probley about 10 people in total stood up to say there words on behalf of Brandon the rest where there as supporters as well. It's in our local paper the Journal, I hope you follow up on this story, we were hoping you would be there for the meeting, thanks for the intial story and getting people in all the area to see how redicoulus this whole thing is. Thanks to everyone who showed up and showed the board the community is upset, at the meeting after everyones comments the board refused to give and sort of comment themselves and the Atheletic Director was absent, though the superintendent and principle where present. thanks again we are going to continue to watch this we hope you do to.
Posted by: Jenn on Oct 8, 2007 at 09:30 PM
Well, we wouldn't want to create an environment in public school that would promote independent thinkers--for heaven's sake, how on earth can you expect these kids to grow up to be good little worker bees if they start expressing themselves? Good Grief! Next thing you know, we'll have innovation. Or Communism.
Posted by: KF Location: Winamac on Oct 8, 2007 at 05:20 PM
Brandan is a great guy, and all he wanted to do is show his individuality. It's this time in our lives that we are discovering ourselves, finding out who we are. I love Brandan's hair! In my opinion, more people are distracted by the hype about cutting it than they were before all of this started. People at school know Brandan and know that hair is a big part of the music he and his friends listen to. Soccer is also a big part of his life. Why not let him do both?
Posted by: Sammi Location: Md on Oct 7, 2007 at 10:48 PM
As a former student at Winamac Highschool this is an outrage. Just because he is a student doesn't mean he is not a person and therefore should be treated as such. Promote..Bull Winamac, sorry dears, is barely on the map you can have a way of doing things but children our age are changing. Not everything is going to be hunkey dory because you want it to be, no gee wilikers mister. In fact I think if you said that you'd either get patronized for the rest of you high school career or be mistaken for a homosexual. I think GO BRANDON! He has every much a right as anyone. Do you feel that you should get fired from a job because of how you dress or have your hair styled? I don't and I know that it happens. But who is going to put the wedge in the door. It's people like Brandon that make things possible. Although it may seem a bit weird or uncommon, someone has to break a trend. Someone has to be the wild child. It makes room for others to open up. And Brandon isn't doing a thing wrong. Sammi
Posted by: A Location: Winamac on Oct 5, 2007 at 08:51 PM
Our 3rd grader had a Mohawk too and and we were called about cutting it today. I requested a meeting. I was told it was disruptive to the learning environment. After our meeting the principal see's our side, and said since there is no rule he will not be punished and can keep the hair. However, I am still waiting for fall out from the superintendent. It's hair. He's a great student and very respectful. This is the first time he has ever had ANY problems in school. Winamac, is just on a mission right now to make an example. We support you Brandon, and I'm sorry that instead of letting you play soccer, we have turned you into nothing but an example. It's really unfair to you that you have to spend your senior year this way. It's also unfortunate that instead of just saying we were wrong, that the school board and Mr. DOBBS are hell bent on making everyone miserable in a faded attempt to be right.
Posted by: Mike Location: Unknown on Oct 5, 2007 at 05:19 PM
That's just plain stupid... Put the kid back on the team!!!!
Posted by: Eric Location: Winamac on Oct 5, 2007 at 02:37 PM
Brandon is a good kid. He is on the honor roll. He has never been in trouble. He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment. People in our community are rallying together to try to fix this unfurtunate problem. The school board has crossed the line, and needs to hear about it. It is the parents job to tell their children how they can and cannot express themselves. Not the school! I am going to the next school board meeting! I think that it would be good for Brandons cause if you guys showed up. Maybe we can do some good together.
Posted by: Annie Location: Winamac on Oct 5, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I feel so sorry for Brandon Geise.I have attended many a soccer game here in Winamac, and hair styles were NEVER an issue until Winamac got a new Athletic Director about nine weeks ago.His name is Mr. Doobs.He told me,"Brandon did not get cut from the team.He quit on is own. Because he would not cut his hair, it was his choice.I don't believe that children should be able to express themselves, and I have every right to punish Brandon for doing so.".Someone school affiliated pulled Brandon off of the school float of our annual town parade because of his hair(even though the child was wearing a hat).Doobs also told me that what they were doing to Brandon was none of my business.Winamac is a public school and as a member of the commity I have every right to voice my opinion.I could go on and on about the poor kids misfortune with this hipocritical school system.I seem to be running out of space.Many community members like myself will be at the next school board meeting.You should come too.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Winamac on Oct 5, 2007 at 11:26 AM
I feel Brandon is doing the right thing. No one complains about the cheerleaders at basketball or football games with their short short skirts. Or the girls on the volleyball or basketball team who color their hair. A mowhawk has been around for years. We are all different and we all like different things. I would rather see a student/athlete have a mowhawk than get busted for drugs.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 5, 2007 at 08:49 AM
First of all is there anything in the student handbook or stated anywhere that kids can't have this type of haircut if they are participating in a sport? I think it is unfair. He should be able to do something about it.
Posted by: ROBERT Location: SOUTH BEND on Oct 4, 2007 at 09:59 PM
I APPLAUD THE TEACHERS. MAYBE IF WE WORRIED LESS ABOUT INDIVIDUALITY, AND MORE ABOUT TEAM WORK, GRADES, SPORTS, BAND, EVERYTHING WOULD BE BETTER AT ALL SCHOOL. WE DON'T GO TO SCHOOL TO BE AN INDIVIDUAL. WE GO TO LEARN. HIS PLAYING SKILL IS WHAT WILL MAKE HIM AN INDIVIDUAL. I AM ONLY 28, so I AM NOT AN OLD DUDE RANTING. HE SHOULD HAVE MORE RESPECT FOR HIS TEAM THAN THAT. THE SAD THING IS, HIS PARENTS WILL PROBABLY SUE THE SCHOOL AND WIN. BLEEDING HEART SOCIET :(
Posted by: Mark Location: south bend on Oct 4, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Total BS. The superintendent sounds like a real piece of work. No room for individuality? Give me a brek.
Posted by: SA Location: Winamac, IN on Oct 4, 2007 at 07:45 PM
As a parent, we are behind Brandan 100%. His hair is no distraction. The football players had similar "do's" and nothing had been said to them at that time. We feel Brandan is being singled out. A mohawk symbolizes a Warrior, which is the team mascot. What if the girls decide to wear braids? We hope Brandan and his family can get the school to write a policy with specifics so that this does not happen to any students in the future. Brandan is a real gentleman, a good student, and an excellent team member on that soccer team. Again, Brandan, there are MANY of us who are behind you and your stand against the school's action in regard to your hair style.
Posted by: A Mom on Oct 4, 2007 at 07:18 PM
This is ridiculous. It's hair. Another example of school administrators thinking they control the world.
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