SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) -
More than 3 dozen students have been suspended from Calvary Baptist Academy in Shreveport for their participation in a "Harlem Shake" video posted to YouTube.
The video, reportedly shot on Friday, February 15 and posted to YouTube on Saturday, appears to show members of the CBA baseball team in front of the school's dugout on the field dancing wildly. Several of them are stripped down to varying degrees or wearing costumes, and making suggestive gestures.
The description was updated on Wednesday by 'cbaharlemshake' to add the following:
"Today, everyone in this video was suspended. Calvary's a great place, isn't it?
I understand that Calvary is a Baptist school and as such hates dancing. But forcing us to take down our Harlem Shake video under threat of expulsion? Yeah, that's not going to fly. So, eat your heart out, G. Once something's on the Internet it's there to stay."
The video posted by 'cbaharlemshake' appears to be a re-upload.
In addition to the video featuring the Cavaliers' baseball team, 2 other Harlem Shake videos were reportedly recorded on campus - one in an English class and another involving the wrestling team. Those videos do not appear to currently be posted on YouTube.
Principal Kevin Guerrero confirmed Wednesday that about 40 students had been suspended.
The Harlem Shake is an Internet meme that recently went viral on YouTube. The videos last 31 seconds and feature an excerpt from the song, "Harlem Shake" by electronic musician Baauer. Usually, the video begins with one person (often in a helmet or mask) dancing to the song along for 15 seconds, surrounded by several others who appear unaware of the dancing individual. After the bass drops, the video cuts to the entire crowd dancing, often stripped down or decked out with crazy costumes or odd props.
Guerrero says the school is not opposed to the Harlem Shake itself, but administrators felt like the students' lack of clothing and gyrations were inappropriate.
Students and parents have told KSLA News 12 they are upset because there was no degree of punishment based on the actions of the students involved. Some say, for example, that the student holding the camera was not in the video and therefore should not be punished the same as those who stripped down and danced.
The school opted instead for one level of punishment across the board: 2 days of out of school suspension.
When asked if there were any teachers or staff involved, Guerrero said he cannot comment on personnel matters.
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