Livin' the life...

I rarely post stories from Barbados (because it's a bit harder to keep up with the news!) but this one I found quite interesting. Please note that for this post I used the heading directly from the NationNews article (except they incorrectly spelt "hairstyle" as "hairsyle"), even though I am of the persuasion that the word "expel" may not have been used accurately. Anyway, the story!

"THE FIVE MALE STUDENTS of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) barred from classes because of dreadlock hairstyles are questioning why there is nothing in their student handbook on hairstyles.

Two of the affected men, Carlos Adams, 22, and Damien Weekes, 24, who spoke to the SATURDAY SUN yesterday in The City, said there was nothing in the handbook which spoke to their hairstyles. They showed Page 3 of the handbook which states:

"The SJPP appreciates and values diversity in all forms and does not discriminate on the basis of race; sexual orientation; nationality; religion; disability; ethnicity; political orientation; colour; social status or family background."

However, the same handbook states that rules and regulations of the SJPP could change at any time without public notice.

"The SJPP reserves the right to alter, without notice, any of the regulations and policies stated in this publication," it is stated on Page 3. " (Ref)

Two questions/issues here: (a) At the UWI, are there such hairstyle regulations? I'm not sure but I do not think so. Can anyone clarify this? And (b), this "rules and regulations of the SJPP could change at any time without public notice" statement is just perfect for admin and is a tool used in many organisations. However, noting that students have been at the polytechnic for a year but are now being informed of this, are we to assume it's a NEW rule? I wonder...