SPANISH FORK, Utah — American Leadership Academy (ALA) responded to allegations involving an incident at a homecoming dance where student attendees claimed to have been body shamed. 

The incident occurred last weekend when female students were denied entry to the school’s homecoming dance because they were violating the dress code. A few students came forward to speak about the treatment they felt was unfair and inconsistent which resulted in a protest outside the school

ALA has since issued a statement rejecting many claims made by student attendees.

“The school acknowledges that several students felt hurt,” started the statement. “And for that the school sincerely apologizes that any students came away from the dance feeling less than enough.”

The school denies that no more than 14 girls were turned away from the dance, compared to the accused dozens. 

Additionally, the female attendees of the dance felt appropriate dresses were being gauged on the size of the girl wearing them. Students claimed girls who were being turned away had the same dresses as smaller girls who were admitted, resulting in some of them feeling body shamed. 

The school responded to those allegations and said there were no inconsistencies, “Students of all shapes and sizes were represented and no one more than the other.” 

To the parent who was present when her daughter was denied entry, the school acknowledged her need for kinder communication when talking about students’ bodies.

Finally, the administration said the standing dress code will remain. In the future, training for dress code monitors will be conducted prior to the dance. 

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