Pac-Man, you are over reacting. You are NOT comparing apples to apples. As mother a”h always said “ver hut kinder noch in shteib zol shvagen”. For those who don’t understand yiddish, I will give you a literal and loose translation. The literal is “those who still have kids at home should stay quiet” meaning, no one knows who Hashem will test next so it is better to stop judging and keep your mouth shut!
This could have been a test of the children involved, it could have been a test for the Yenta (sorry holymoe) this could have been a test for the RY, and this can also be a test for those who are quick to judge the child so harshly. Please remember that Yeshiva’s have been throwing out kids for this infraction and ruining their lives for more than a decade already. Has this “consequence” helped or are they still throwing kids out for this same infraction? Think about it!!!!!
Don’t you think that if this was the right consequence it would have impacted the kids in an effective manner and no one would be getting kicked out any longer? If they still have to use these horrendous methods it probably isn’t working, it is a “broken” system. It didn’t work ten years ago and it still doesn’t work now. If they don’t want kids to talk to the other gender the yeshivas and parents should talk to them about it. They should also speak about the horrors of drugs and alcohol. They should speak about why doing these things are wrong for underage kids and for kids who are in the Yeshiva and not on the Shidduch scene. They need to explain to kids why we say “NO” and not just say “NO”.