Hair-brained school makes student shave ‘gang symbol’ design

By William R. Toler

ELIZABETH CITY–Jay Cowell was told by school officals to get another haircut because they said he had gang symbols etched into his head.

Cowell, an eighth-grader at River Road Middle school, had a moon and star design shaved into his head, but was forced to change it before returning to school.

Natasha Cowell, the boy’s mother, isn’t too happy about her son being accused of being in a gang. She told the Daily Advance that school officials had previously questioned her about the possibilty of gang affiliation because he wore a red shirt to school.