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Garfield High Temporarily Expels 11 Students Over Hazing Incident

JoeInSouthernCA
/
Flickr

Seattle’s Garfield High School has temporarily expelled 11 students following a mass hazing incident last month.

The students face emergency expulsion, which means the action isn't disciplinary in nature; instead, its aim is to get students off of campus as quickly as possible to allow school officials to investigate.

"We’re treating each student individually, investigating each student’s role individually as we...decide what to do next with them," said Seattle Public Schools spokesperson Teresa Wippel.

Investigations like this typically last 10 days, said Wippel. Not having these 11 students on campus might make victims and witnesses feel more comfortable about talking with investigators. 

The 11 students include sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Nine are boys; two are girls; 10 students are white and 1 student is African, according to Wippel.

On Sept. 27, more than 100 students were found paddling each other, drinking beer, wearing diapers and covered in shoe polish at the Arboretum.

Seattle police are conducting their own separate investigation.