Two male students have been expelled from a Melbourne private school after compiling an offensive list ranking their female classmates’ appearances.
The girls were ranked from top to bottom as “wifeys”, “cuties”, “mid”, “object”, “get out” and then finally “unrapable”.
Yarra Valley Grammar principal Dr Mark Merry announced in a statement today that the position of the two students had become “untenable”.
He said others who had played a lesser role in the matter would be subject “to further disciplinary action”.
“A number of our students had been unfairly targeted in a cruel and highly offensive online post which caused great hurt to them and their families and distress to their friends,” the statement read.
“I am saddened that the actions of a few individuals can cause so much harm as social media has the power to amplify the damage that can be done and the anguish inflicted.”
In a press conference a short time later, Merry said he believed the students involved felt remorse for their behaviour.
“It’s important they do learn from this because this needs to be a learning moment for them as well,” he told reporters today.
“I hope they can move on having learnt that actions have consequences but they can move on and have a fresh start and hopefully succeed in their studies.”
Merry acknowledged harmful student behaviour had been exacerbated by social media in recent times.
He said in relation to the incident, the school would be offering psychological support to those affected but that there was also a show of informal support from their fellow classmates.
“The boys and the girls from that year level are outraged and I think they’re rallying around and I would hope they feel their fellow students will have their back,” he said.
“And I think that’s the beginning of restoration. That’s the beginning of trying to heal through all of this.
“But the harms have been done, what’s been said can’t be unsaid, so it’s up to us now to try to work with them, try to support them and make them feel good about being here again.”
Victoria Police have been contacted to investigate any criminality involved.
Merry said parents of the school had not considered legal action at this stage.
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