Two boys have been expelled from Yarra Valley Grammar over a ‘cruel’ and ‘misogynistic’ spreadsheet targeting several female students causing “great hurt to them and their families and distress to their friends.”
The spreadsheet contained photographs of female students who were ranked from top to bottom as “wifeys”, “cuties”, “mid”, “object”, “get out” and “unrapable”.
The alarming situation came to the attention of the school’s principal Dr Mark Merry after staff discovered a screenshot of the document, which had been uploaded to the messaging app Discord. Three students from the school were subsequently suspended.
However, in a letter to parents, Principal Dr Mark Merry said two of those students would not be returning to the school.
“The past week has obviously been a difficult one for our community. 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,” Dr Merry wrote.
“As a result of these investigations, yesterday I formed the view that the position of two students at Yarra has become untenable and as a consequence they will not be returning to the School. Others, who have played a lesser role in this matter have been subject to further disciplinary action.”
Dr Merry said the incident has prompted the school to review its programs and ensure a safe and respectful environment for all students.
“Whilst we conduct regular sessions on respectful relationships and model care and respect in all that we do; this has not been enough. We will be reviewing all of our programmes to ensure that the dignity of all is respected,” he wrote.
“This needs to be a learning moment for all of us.”