Uproar over prank clip <!--10 min-->
Netizens say she was bullied but principal claims girl told teacher it was all in fun <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Amelia Tan </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
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The prank comes to an end when a teacher steps in. -- PHOTOS: STOMP
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</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A VIDEO posted online of an 18-year-old junior college student tied to a chin-up bar and having birthday cake smeared on her face has caused an uproar. The video, originally uploaded on video sharing website YouTube two months ago, has since been taken down. But a copy of it was sent to The Straits Times' interactive portal Stomp yesterday and was uploaded, drawing a firestorm of comments.
<table valign="top" align="left" width="200"> <tbody><tr><td class="padr8"> <!-- Vodcast --> <table> <tbody><tr><td> VIDEO
</td></tr> <tr><td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- Background Story --> </td></tr> </tbody></table> Many Stomp users said the Anglo-Chinese Junior College student was being bullied and humiliated by her friends. But students who witnessed the incident, as well as the school's administration, said the prank was done in good fun.
In the clip, the teen was dragged by a group of other girls and tied to the chin-up bar and force-fed cake. The prank ended when a teacher stepped in.
Stomp users said the girl was clearly not having fun. She was screaming and at times looked like she was crying. Others asked why witnesses to the incident failed to intervene earlier, and said the video reflected badly on the school.
Principal Kelvyna Chan, referring to the outrage expressed over the prank, said the video had been wrongly interpreted as a case of bullying when it was a birthday celebration between good friends, 'as seen by the laughter shared by the birthday girl and her friends'.
She also said the girl at the centre of the prank had assured the teacher who stopped it that it was all in fun.
Mrs Chan added: 'Although the activity was done in good humour, the college has counselled the students involved on the possible hazards of such activities and told them that there were more appropriate ways to show friendship among peers.'
One of the girl's classmates, declining to be named, described her as 'outgoing and fun' and that she had agreed to the 'ragging'.
He said: 'I think this was fine because she was okay with her friends having fun. But it depends on your personal preference. It would be wrong to force someone to be part of something he or she does not want to be involved in.'
Read also:
Ragging in SCDF - Punishment should be severe and transparent
Netizens say she was bullied but principal claims girl told teacher it was all in fun <!-- headline one : start --> <!-- headline one : end --> <!-- Author --> <!-- show image if available --> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr></tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold">By Amelia Tan </td></tr> <tr valign="bottom"> <td width="330">
</td> <td width="10">
The prank comes to an end when a teacher steps in. -- PHOTOS: STOMP
</td></tr> <tr><td>
</td></tr> </tbody></table> <!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--> A VIDEO posted online of an 18-year-old junior college student tied to a chin-up bar and having birthday cake smeared on her face has caused an uproar. The video, originally uploaded on video sharing website YouTube two months ago, has since been taken down. But a copy of it was sent to The Straits Times' interactive portal Stomp yesterday and was uploaded, drawing a firestorm of comments.
<table valign="top" align="left" width="200"> <tbody><tr><td class="padr8"> <!-- Vodcast --> <table> <tbody><tr><td> VIDEO
</td></tr> <tr><td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- Background Story --> </td></tr> </tbody></table> Many Stomp users said the Anglo-Chinese Junior College student was being bullied and humiliated by her friends. But students who witnessed the incident, as well as the school's administration, said the prank was done in good fun.
In the clip, the teen was dragged by a group of other girls and tied to the chin-up bar and force-fed cake. The prank ended when a teacher stepped in.
Stomp users said the girl was clearly not having fun. She was screaming and at times looked like she was crying. Others asked why witnesses to the incident failed to intervene earlier, and said the video reflected badly on the school.
Principal Kelvyna Chan, referring to the outrage expressed over the prank, said the video had been wrongly interpreted as a case of bullying when it was a birthday celebration between good friends, 'as seen by the laughter shared by the birthday girl and her friends'.
She also said the girl at the centre of the prank had assured the teacher who stopped it that it was all in fun.
Mrs Chan added: 'Although the activity was done in good humour, the college has counselled the students involved on the possible hazards of such activities and told them that there were more appropriate ways to show friendship among peers.'
One of the girl's classmates, declining to be named, described her as 'outgoing and fun' and that she had agreed to the 'ragging'.
He said: 'I think this was fine because she was okay with her friends having fun. But it depends on your personal preference. It would be wrong to force someone to be part of something he or she does not want to be involved in.'
Read also:
Ragging in SCDF - Punishment should be severe and transparent
