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Facebook fury after teens ‘locked out’ of prom for running late in Savannah

Kristen Lambertsen

A Facebook firestorm broke out this weekend after students from St. Vincent’s Academy were turned away at the door of their senior prom.

Parents say the “lock in” rule — meant to keep their daughters safe and assure they make it to the dance — went too far this time.

“They’ll never get their prom night back. They’ll never be able to do their senior walk,” says Rachel Traub.

Traub’s daughter, her date and 6 friends were turned away at the door of her senior prom for being just 20 minutes late after being delayed at an upscale restaurant, Garibaldi’s.

The manager even apologized for the slow service and the back up in the kitchen, Traub said.

She says what hurts is that St. Vincent’s School staff were told that the girls would be running a bit late — and that didn’t change anything.

“I feel like this is a rule with exceptions and the Sisters of Mercy created this rule and I really believe that if the Sisters of Mercy were at that door they would have let those children in,” says Traub.

Traub said the decision was “senseless” and that her daughter was crying “hysterically” after being locked out.

Traub took to Facebook with her complaints and was joined by fellow parents and friends in outrage towards the school. So far, there are more than 500 “likes” and “shares” for Traub’s post on Facebook.

But St. Vincent’s principal Mary Anne Hogan tells WSAV she and her staff feel victimized by the social media firestorm.

She made the point that hundreds of other students made it in before the lock in took effect and that the group that was late were told what they needed to do in order to make it in time.

But Traub explained her daughter tried reached out to the principal to explain, but was rudely rejected.

“They sent Mrs. Hogan (the Principal) a text explaining to her what was happening. Her response was go to McDonalds (and) get here. Well they couldn’t get up and leave. They ate, got there as soon as they could,” Traub wrote on Facebook.

“I just don’t want this to happen to any of the other girls .. like I said I thought it was a security issue for the lock down not punishment for running late,” Traub says.

Now social media is rallying behind the girls with plans to have a special event to mirror what would have been their prom night.

Statement from St. Vincent’s Academy:

“The lock in rule has been in place for more than ten years at all St. Vincent’s dances. It was started by the Sisters of Mercy and fully supported by the Board of Directors. Parents and students signed a form a week in advance of the prom agreeing to follow the rule. More than 260 kids followed the rule and respected it. A small group of 8 students made choices that caused them to arrive at Prom after the lock in time. The behavior of these students after their arrival at the dance is a school disciplinary issue and will remain private. The majority of parents are in favor of the lock in rule as a safety measure protecting their children. As parents and educators, we model to our children how to problem solve and resolve conflict. The firestorm that has occurred on social media based on inaccurate information is sending a negative and dangerous message to our children and is nothing short of cyber bullying targeted at the SVA administration for upholding a standard. We will continue to put our students first and teach them to be respectful and productive young women.”

— Mary Anne Hogan, Principal St. Vincent’s Academy

— Info from WSAV-TV