A Louisiana high school student lost her student government position and scholarship opportunities after a twerking video was shared on social media.
    • tigeruppercut@lemmy.zipEnglish
      66·
      1 year ago

      Disciplinary action taken by Principal Jason St. Pierre this week at Walker High School has brought national attention to Livingston Parish.

      St. Pierre removed Kaylee Timonet from the Student Government Association (SGA) due to a video which was posted on social media showing her ‘twerking’ at an off-campus dance, which occurred after homecoming of this year.

      The video, which was posted by DJ Savage who worked the event, showed Timonet and friends dancing to a song he was playing. The venue was later identified as Denham Springs Country Club.

      advertisement Timonet’s removal from SGA also put two SGA-sponsored scholarships unattainable for the 4.0+ student, who is also President of Walker High’s Beta Club. In an interview with Unfiltered with Kiran (UWK), Timonet expressed just how badly she felt after St. Pierre levied his punishment.

      “I felt like my life was over,” Timonet told UWK. "Everything I worked for since I was little, always worked really hard at school.

      “Being student of the year, at least having a chance at it, has always been my main goal. I’m starting college this January. I’m done in December so it was a shock.”

      advertisement Timonet’s mother, Rachel, was also in shock over the principal’s actions. She said that in a meeting with St. Pierre, she was told that the principal had referred to Bible scripture on several occasions and informed her he was ‘well within his right’ to enact the discipline he chose.

      Local social media pages, groups, and residents took swiftly to the internet to express their displeasure. A Walker High student created a specific logo to represent the call that rose up from the community - ‘Let the girl dance.’ Many wanted Timonet reinstated, at a minimum, to SGA… others wanted St. Pierre to resign.

      The story reached national media by Friday evening, including the NY Post and Yahoo News.

      The school board Friday alerted local media that they have launched an investigation into the discipline, specifically St. Pierre’s handling of the meeting with Timonet and later, her mother.

      Walker High School provided the News with a form which is signed by all SGA members. The form states that ‘failure to follow any of the aforementioned requirements, will result in immediate dismissal from Walker High SGA. Any action deemed inappropriate by Mr. St. Pierre will also result in removal.’

      The form, however, does not mention anything about off-campus events, referring rules to school-based attendance. It is also vague on it’s references to ‘representing Walker High’ and where that representation begins and ends.