Nov 24, 2018 | 11:25 AM
Two top officials at an all-boys Catholic school in Toronto have resigned amid a police investigation into a case of sexual assault by students as well as criticism over the institution’s handling of the allegations.
St. Michael’s College School in a statement this week announced that principal Greg Reeves and board president Father Jefferson Thompson resigned, both of them “citing a shared desire to move the school forward without distractions” in light of the recent “horrific events of student behavior.”
Toronto Police on Monday arrested six boys, who are all 14 and 15, from the school on total of 18 charges, including assault, gang sexual assault, and sexual assault with a weapon, in connection with a video that’s been shared online.
In the 22-second clip, a group of students can be seen holding a boy down while another two students appear to assault him with a broomstick, according to The Star.
Authorities learned about the incident just last week and believe it happened earlier in the school year. Police are also investigating additional crimes, and suspect that as many four others videos could be circulating on social media, said Toronto Police Inspector Dominic Sinopoli.
St. Michael’s expelled eight students in connection with the assault allegations, thought it’s unclear if any of them are among those who were arrested. The high school is also launching an independent review into the school’s culture and urged students to utilize a new anonymous voicemail should they want to share their own experiences.
Sinopoli during a press conference Tuesday also noted the school failed to immediately notify police of the incidents, which he said authorities became aware of through social media. Prior to his resignation, Reeves defended his decision to wait two days to tell authorities about the alleged assault.
“These incidents are clearly indicative we have a problem. We need to do much better at our culture and our student’s ability to talk to us,” he said, adding that his priority had been to protect the alleged victim.
Chair of the board of Directors Michael Forsayeth stood by both Reeves and Thompson in wake of their resignations, saying in a statement they’d “fulfilled their moral and ethical obligations to manage the immediate crisis and our engage our school community.”
“Greg Reeves and Fr. Thompson have always put the welfare, education and formation of our students first — and they do so once again today,” he said.
Alumni and former students though have expressed an alternative perspective, many of them coming forward with stories of bullying during their time at St. Michael’s.They told the Canadian Press they would be more than happy to speak about their experiences as part of the institution’s independent review.
Nathon Goveas graduated from the Toronto school in 2003.
"I was bullied the entire time I was there, right from day one,” said Goveas, who is now a teacher. “I’m a skinny brown kid. People made fun of my appearance. It was mostly verbal bullying.
He never complained, but his mother — concerned by his change in demeanor — approached school administrators who “dismissed it as boys will be boys.”
With New Wire Services
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