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 The disciplinary action taken by school administrators in
York against the 18-year-old senior made national headlines, and
generated sympathy for the young man on social media.
A video of Central York High School senior Patrick Farves
approaching 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri on Thursday at a
school assembly was posted on a local newspaper's website.
It shows Farves walking up to Davuluri bearing a plastic flower
and ask her to his prom, as the crowd of students erupts in
laughter and cheers.
"I was flattered by the gesture, although I am unfortunately
unable to attend due to my travel schedule," Davuluri said in a
statement posted to the pageant's Facebook page.
"I later learned of the disciplinary action taken and reached
out to the school in hopes that they will reconsider their
decision," she said.
Administrators had heard rumors Farves was planning to make the
bold gesture of approaching Davuluri and warned him not to do
so, Farves said in a phone interview on Saturday.
"By that time, my mind was already set," he said. "I was already
in the zone."
Farves was given a three-day in-school suspension, which
requires him to sit in a classroom and work alone. He said he
now feels bad his stunt overshadowed efforts by Davuluri — the
first-ever Indian-American Miss America pageant winner — to
promote diversity.
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"She was trying to get across a very strong message — about how it's
not about your beliefs or the color of your skin, but who you are,"
he said.
Farves, who said his mother is white and his father is black, also
said he regretted his action because school officials worked hard to
organize the event.
While he has scores of new Twitter followers and Facebook friend
requests, Farves said he remains without a date for his school's May
10 prom.
School officials issued a statement on Central York High's Facebook
page, defending the decision to suspend Farves.
"It is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone — even Miss America — to a school dance," the statement said.
"However, it is our practice to set expectations for student
behavior, to communicate those expectations and rules to students
and families and to ensure those rules are followed within our
schools."
A school spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for
comment on Davuluri's statement.
(Reporting By Chris Francescani; editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and
Sandra Maler)
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