Adelaide High School students walk out of class to protest ‘toxic’ and ‘prevalent’ sexual violence culture

More than a hundred students have stormed out of class to protest the “toxic” culture at their school – that allegedly involved one male student “shopping around” a girl’s nude photo.

More than a hundred Adelaide High School students have stormed out of class to protest the alleged “toxic” and “prevalent” sexual violence culture at their school.

A group of female students from the school formed a group named Call4Action in May, which they used to lobby for a school-wide focus on the “sexism, sexual assault, rape culture and gender-based violence” that had become “prevalent issues” in the school’s community.

One 17-year-old student told The Advertiser she had seen a male student shopping around a nude photo a female student had sent to him.

Without her consent, he allegedly repeatedly sold her photo to other students for $5 a text.

Other female students told the publication about repeatedly being sexually degraded in school by senior students.

Call4Action also started a change.org petition, which has been signed by more than 6500 people since it was started two weeks ago.

“We want to initiate the first steps of prevention of these issues within the community, by creating informed and educated students and staff,” the group said.

Call4Action suggested a number of things that could help fix the school’s culture including the establishment of educational sexual assault prevention programs, and making them mandatory for all students, and the establishment of a database to record “every student complaint concerning, sexual assault, gender-based violence or harassment, sexuality-based violence or harassment”.

“We hope to bring systematic change to all Australian high schools, these are only the first steps,” the group said.

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Adelaide High School students walk off campus to protest against sexual harassment. Picture: Tom Huntley

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However, an email response to the petition from school’s principal, Cezanne Green, to parents and pupils last month triggered stronger action from students who branded it “tone-deaf” and said it did not go far enough.

“Not only was the email disappointing and lacklustre in its contents but it only further encapsulates the schools overarching priority of image over their students’ opinions and wellbeing,” the group said.

“The school’s lack of appropriate responses to victims’ complaints has set a gross precedent in the community, where perpetrators can knowingly commit harassment, hate or violence and continue to exist with the comforting knowledge that they will face little to no repercussion or punishment.”

In response to the principal’s email, the group encouraged students at the Adelaide school to walk out of class to protest.

More than a hundred students walked off school grounds yesterday morning chanting “shame on you” and holding signs calling for greater accountability.

Adelaide High School students after walking out of class. Picture: Rebecca DiGirolamo

In Call4Action’s message to Ms Green last week, the group called on the principal to “be better”.

“Cez Green’s response email was tone-deaf and insulting to the community as a whole and the victims who are suffering due to the school’s refusal to take accountability,” it said.

“The email read as, ‘We are choosing not to look into the students’ complaints as we feel we’re already doing enough’, and that sort of response is not good enough.

“Our petition and movement have been quite responsible in our demands and vision for the school … Instead of attempting to portray the school as something it is not, put in the work to create an ideal and safe school community.

“Enough is enough, your time is up, and our voices will not be silenced.”

In a statement, Ms Green said the school was working on ensuring the students felt heard.

“The vigil reflects the sincere belief that things can be better in our community and that we all have a role to play in creating a safer society,” Ms Green said.

“We acknowledge those feelings and recommit to playing our part.”