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Prom Date 'Draft' At Calif. High School Under Fire

If money was exchanged in the so-called "prom draft," the Los Angeles Times reports students involved could possibly face suspension.
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A group of high school boys in California is getting some backlash after broadcasting a so-called "prom draft" on Twitter.

"Now, your daughter is a commodity. She is no longer a person anymore. She is being ranked and sold like an NFL player. It's outrageous to think of."

KCBS reports the "prom draft" has become somewhat of a tradition for students at Corona del Mar High School in Orange County. However, it is not affiliated with the school. Students simply put on the event.

Students reportedly set up a Twitter account dedicated to the draft and posted about it. KABC notes the account has since been deactivated.

A junior at the high school told the Los Angeles Times the group was made up of 15 boys. Another unidentified student said one boy in the draft had spent $140 just so he could get a better draft pick.

Local news outlets in Los Angeles have called the "prom draft" controversial, but some students at the high school, whose faces weren't shown, told KTLA it's not as bad as you might think.

"The whole purpose was to avoid conflict. It was never meant to hurt any of the girls' feelings or anyone's feelings."

"Do you feel it's being portrayed worse than it really is?"
​"100 percent, yes."

But either way, the Orange County Register notes the principal of Corona del Mar High School sent out an email to parents saying: "I am sure that the intention of this 'draft' is not to be harmful, but it may be. ... It is not OK for any student to be objectified or judged in any way."

The Los Angeles Times reports some of the students involved could be suspended if the "draft" actually did involve money. School officials told the paper they are investigating the incident.