Bolo tie creates a bind for graduating senior

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — High-school officials are withholding Thomas Benya's diploma because he wore a bolo tie under his graduation gown.

Benya, 17, said he prefers the string bolo ties over traditional knotted ties to reflect his Native American heritage.

But officials from Maurice J. McDonough High School in suburban Washington, D.C., said they warned him that a bolo violated the dress code for the event, held Wednesday for about 250 students.

The bolo "was not considered by staff to be a tie," said Katie O'Malley-Simpson, a school spokeswoman. "We have many opportunities throughout the year to express cultural heritage. But we don't do that at graduation."

Benya said he never thought his diploma was at stake and wore a bolo anyway. "I did not feel that I should change my heritage for an hour and a half to wear an actual tie to show respect when they aren't showing respect to me," he said.

The spokeswoman said the school will give Benya his diploma but he had not set up a meeting to receive it.

The boy's parents, who are considering suing, said they want an apology from school officials for embarrassing their son and failing to respect the Cherokee background of his father.

His mother, Marsha Benya, cited the history of Indians being "pushed around," and added: "If he had not stood up for himself, he would have been part of the problem of Native Americans being treated in this way."

In March, Benya's high school sent a letter to parents and seniors explaining that "adherence to the dress code is mandatory," with the word mandatory in bold and underlined. For girls: white dresses or skirts with white blouses. For boys: dark dress pants with white dress shirts and ties.

That left Benya's classmates free to wear bright orange, red and striped ties under their gowns at the ceremony. One senior girl wore a head scarf and long pants for religious reasons.

"The First Amendment protects religion, and we do everything possible to honor that," O'Malley-Simpson said. "There is nothing that requires us to follow everyone's different cultures."

Material from The Washington Post is included in this report.