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In response to a cease-and-desist order from the band Korn directing her to immediately refrain from defaming the band, a Michigan school official said her recent comments calling the band's T-shirts "obscene" had less to do with Korn than with
"The issue is not Korn shirts," said Zeeland High School Assistant Principal Gretchen Plewes, speaking by phone from her home Thursday evening. "The issue is not Marilyn Manson shirts. The issue is keeping the same standards of attire for everyone in our high school." Last week Plewes suspended 18-year-old Eric VanHoven for two days, saying the shirt he had worn -- emblazoned with the word "Korn" and nothing more -- violated a school policy against clothing that implies obscenity, violence, drugs or sexual innuendo. "Korn is indecent, vulgar, obscene and intends to be insulting," Plewes told the Holland Sentinel newspaper. "[Wearing the name Korn] is no different than a person wearing a middle finger on their shirt." More than 400 students and parents have since signed a petition in support of VanHoven. A student walkout protesting the suspension is scheduled for Friday at the school, according to a statement issued by Korn. Korn attorney David Baram rejoined Plewes' remarks with a cease-and-desist letter faxed to the school Thursday. Calling Plewes' comments "patently false," the missive contends that the assistant principal "maliciously and intentionally" defamed the quartet -- fronted by singer Jonathan Davis -- with her claims to the Sentinel. "Our band sends out positive messages to our fans -- we stand for something," Davis said in the statement. "After hearing about something as ridiculous as this, we wanted to stand up for the student's rights and let the school district know that we're pissed off at their treatment of the student and their attempt to discredit Korn as artists and human beings." However, in her argument, Plewes -- who said she has not seen the letter from Korn's attorney -- contended that VanHoven's shirt constituted a "walking advertisement for lyrics and lifestyles." In past years, the school has also fought to prevent students from wearing shirts with phrases such as "Party Naked." Asked if the school would similarly suspend students for wearing the shirts of country artists such as Garth Brooks or of Christian pop singer Amy Grant, Plewes said, "Some people think we should ban all T-shirts. Some people have brought up the subject of religious T-shirts. Some are wondering if our school will end up with students wearing uniforms. Right now, we are looking at the issue." For his part, Korn manager Jeff Kwatinetz said he thinks that Plewes' opinions on Korn's shirts are based on shaky foundations. "There are no official lyrics to Korn's songs," Kwatinetz said during a phone interview Friday in response to Plewes' comments. "They're not printed on any of our albums and they're not posted on our official website." Meanwhile, Korn members are weighing their legal options. According to the letter from Baram, Plewes' comments constitute trade defamation against Korn, and thus the band is entitled to "significant compensatory and punitive damages" from Plewes and the Zeeland Public Schools Board of Education. "We are anxious to hear your excuse for such comments," the letter reads, "as I am sure your lawyers will inform you the term 'Korn' does not and cannot constitute obscenity under any recognized legal definition." The statement issued by the band said that if bandmembers sued and damages were awarded, the money would be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union and child-abuse prevention charities. "We're taking this very seriously," Kwatinetz said. "This is a violation of civil liberties."
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