Corey Griffin, a junior elementary-education major, stands out among students and for two obvious reasons – the two gold nugget earrings in each of his ears.
Men sporting earrings is nothing new, and it’s usually not even the focus of debate or controversy. However, the practice made national news recently when Kwame Kilpatrick, the 35-year-old mayor of Detroit, announced that he has decided to stop wearing the diamond stud that has become his trademark. In a recent New York Times news brief, Kilpatrick was quoted as saying the earring overshadowed the fact that he had a law degree and that he was head of the Michigan House.
“That little insignificant thing in my ear gave off bad spirit of rebellion,” said the mayor currently up for re-election.
Griffin said his earrings are just fashion statements. “If I was in [Kilpatrick’s] position I would have taken my earring out to be professional when it was time to be professional,” he said. “I wouldn’t have taken my earring out of my ear completely. I would have taken my earring out just for a time period while I ran for the position in politics or when I had to go out and speak to people. The earring does not make the person that is inside of me or affect my ability to do what needs to be done, it’s just an outward appearance for fashion.”
Junior Tony Caldwell, who proudly displays a diamond earring similar to Mayor Kilpatrick’s stud, echoed Griffin’s sentiment.
“It is imperative that we thoroughly understand a person and their nature and culture before we try to judge them. I got my earring because it was the trend and wouldn’t take mine out if in his position,” Caldwell said.
He added: “You can’t take someone’s physical appearance and judge someone. If you must judge someone, judge them by the content of their character, not by their physical appearance.”