Dozens of students at Nepean High School west of downtown Ottawa took to the streets in protest after the long-term suspension of grade 12 student Mykal Baytaluk.
Baytaluk is being held responsible for a hazing incident.
According to Nepean High School students, Baytaluk was driving a car approaching a grade 9 student while others tried to egg him. The car struck the rear wheel of his bike and damaged it.
The student was not injured. Others at the school say Baytaluk was unjustly expelled. Initiating grade 9 students is an old tradition.
"We all participated in the froshing and for Mykal to be singled out as an example is a bit unfair," said schoolmate Daniel Burrow.
"We understand what he did was wrong, but all the grade 12s frosh," said Fatima Allen. "If he should get expelled, we should all get expelled."
Mykal offered to pay for the damage and apologized both to the student and his parents.
However, the school board stands behind Nepean High School's administration and says this is not an over reaction.
"There was a safety issue," said Walter Piovesan with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. "We can talk about fortunate and unfortunate. Fortunately, no one was hurt but the potential for serious injury was there and so we need to take that into consideration when making these sorts of decisions."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Norman Fetterley
