NATCHEZ &8212; A number of Natchez High School students have been suspended recently for dress code violations.

Principal James Loftin said he didn&8217;t have an exact number of students and wouldn&8217;t estimate it, but he was more students than the school could house in their in-school suspension program were cited for the violations. The program has room for about 50 students but also has offenders for other violations.

The suspensions are for breaking two different dress code offenses listed in the student handbook:

4&8220;coats/jackets other than the solid white or navy blue in color must be removed once in the school building. Sweaters/sweatshirt allowed in solid white or navy blue,&8221; and

4&8220;coats and/or accessories indicating sorority or fraternity affiliations are strictly prohibited.&8221;

Loftin said both offenses are punishable by suspension.

&8220;A warning was given weeks before we actually started suspending our students,&8221; he said Thursday. &8220;When we do have to suspend it&8217;s because there&8217;s not compliance to rules and regulations.&8221;

The dress code rules have been in place for 10 years, Loftin said, and there have been violations in the past few years. Loftin is in his third year as principal of NHS.

&8220;Since I have been here, I&8217;ve worked to make sure the enforcement of our particular district (regulations) be adhered to,&8221; he said.

Loftin said he has received calls from parents concerned about the suspensions who have said the rule wasn&8217;t enforced under past administrations, but he said he could not speak to that.

Students breaking the rule are being suspended for one day.

&8220;They are automatically being suspended because of their knowledge (of the rule),&8221; Loftin said.

The dress code can be found on page 19 of the student handbook.