NATION DATELINES
NATION DATELINES
Compiled from Examiner wire reports
March 25, 1998
©1998 San Francisco Examiner

Student suspended for defying Coke Day

Evans, Ga. A high school senior is serving a one-day suspension Wednesday for wearing a Pepsi shirt on Coke Day, an event school officials crafted in an attempt to win a $500 contest run by the Coca-Cola Bottling Co.

Mike Cameron was showing disrespect to guests - the Coke executives who had flown in for the day Friday, Greenbrier High School's principal said.

"I know it sounds bad - "Child suspended for wearing Pepsi shirt on Coke Day,' " principal Gloria Hamilton said. "It really would have been acceptable . . . if it had just been in-house, but we had the regional president here and people flew in from Atlanta to do us the honor of being resource speakers. These students knew we had guests."

Cameron, 19, said he wore the Pepsi logo as a joke. "I don't like to follow the trend of everyone else."

The Coke-themed day was part of an effort to win the contest. The award will go to the school that comes up with the best method of distributing promotional discount cards to students.