CLARKSVILLE, Ind. — Seven seniors at Clarksville High School are not walking across the stage at graduation after a water fight inside the building on the last day of school.
Clarksville High School said the students are no longer allowed to walk at their graduation they used water guns and balloons inside the school building Wednesday.
Officials said water activities were planned for a senior picnic. Before the picnic, seven students allegedly brought the fight inside for about eight minutes.
"At no time did Clarksville High School administrators or staff give permission for students to partake in water activities inside the high school," the school said in a statement.
The school said one student not participating slipped and fell due to the water.
"The safety and well-being of all our students remains our top priority," the statement said. "The incident that took place Wednesday morning at Clarksville High School jeopardized the safety of our students and staff and created a substantial disruption to the educational environment."
Staci Stuart and Rose Spaulding's sons, Samuel and Larry, both participated in the water fight.
"I was at work, it was 11 a.m. I receive a phone call from the assistant principal telling me my son Samuel had been in a water balloon fight," Stuart said.
Both she and Spaulding were told their sons would not be allowed to participate in any senior activities, sent home for the rest of the day.
"I wasn't going to fight this, OK, yes my son has permission to drive off campus, send him home," Stuart said.
Following the incident, though, school officials decided the seven students involved would be barred from walking at graduation Friday. In a statement, the school said the students will still graduate, but will not participate in the ceremony.
"Student-related decisions made by Clarksville administrators are not taken lightly and we will always strive to provide the safest and most secure educational environment for all of our students at all times," the school said.
Both mothers said the punishment was too severe for a small prank.
"We have to tell everybody my son's not going to get to walk because of a water gun fight — it's not fair, it's not fair," Spaulding said.
Stuart has contacted legal counsel, and both mothers said they are heartbroken that their sons will not be able to walk.
"Don't take that final, that thing that shows 'I did it' away from them tonight," Stuart said.
In an email sent to the parents of the seven students, the principal said they can accept their diplomas after the ceremony on a practice field, but they still cannot walk.
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