Student suspended for Longhorn hairdo

EL PASO, Texas, April 20 (UPI) -- A Texas father says it was "unfair" for school officials to suspend his son for a haircut featuring a University of Texas-inspired design.

Carlos Robles of El Paso said his son, who plays for the East Side Longhorns Minor League Football Team, was suspended and placed in an isolated classroom for getting a haircut featuring the Texas Longhorn logo on the back of his head, KFOX-TV, El Paso, Texas, reported Tuesday.

"We just think it's unfair," Robles said. "We just want him to finish his school year."

"If he were to shave it off, it would be a lot worse for him, to go with a bald head," he said.

Socorro Independent School District Spokesman Daniel Escobar said the punishment is within district policy.

"Hairstyles that lead to the disruption of members of campus may not be permitted," he said.

However, Robles said other members of the team sport the same haircut and attend schools in the Socorro school district, KFOX-TV reported. Escobar said the boy's parents have the option to appeal the decision.

The report did not mention the name of the school the boy attends or what grade he is in.