UPDATE: Miss America Gives Speech About Diversity in Technology, Teenage Brat Misses The Point By Asking Her To Prom

USO Warrior And Family Center Grand OpeningPetulant high school student Patrick Farves was suspended this week after asking Nina Davuluri, aka Miss America, to the prom while she was making an important speech about the importance of diversity in tech fields. The school district has taken some heat for their decision to punish Farves, but personally I think he got what he deserved. Maybe the next time he gets the urge to hit on a grown woman (with a boyfriend no less), he’ll think again.

It’s not so much that Farves asked Davuluri to the prom, since he is 18, but the way he went about it makes him seem like the consummate  DudeBro. Davuluri visited Central York High School on Thursday to deliver a motivational speech on the importance of diversity in mathematics, engineering and technology. Farves waited until a question and answer session to deliver his prom invitation, even though school officials had expressly forbidden him from doing so. Seriously, he sounds like such a little shit:

“They (administrators) did that because they told me not to but I did it anyway. They did what they had to.”

According to The York Dispatch this wasn’t an impromptu invitation. Farves had been joking about doing it all week, causing a stir amongst his little minion DudeBros-in-training. Once school administrators caught wind of his plan, they told him in no uncertain terms that he needed to back off, and that asking Davuluri to prom would be highly inappropriate. But Farves is a bro with a plan so a little thing like “respect” or “boundaries” isn’t going to stop his swag:

“At that point in time, it was 10 minutes before the presentation, and I was pretty much set to do it. I was a little pressured. Everybody expected me to do it. I’m the kind of person who, if someone says I won’t do something, I’ll prove people wrong. I will.”

I will give you guys three guesses as to how this went down…

Obviously Davuluri was taken aback by the request, so she didn’t really respond, but that hasn’t stopped Farves’ ego from filling in the blanks with his own mansplainy narrative. And yeah, that’s pretty much exactly how he put it. From The York Dispatch:

“For the sake of my ego, I’m going to say no, I never got a direct answer”…Farves had picked up the “perfect” token to accompany his invitation in art class that morning: A purple plastic flower he handed to Davuluri after asking. Farves said the cheering from the crowd of students behind him kept Davuluri from answering. When he asked to take a selfie with her, she replied with a diplomatic “Maybe later. I never actually got that (selfie) because I never saw her again,” Farves said.”

First of all, a purple plastic flower? Be still my beating heart! Second, when a woman says “maybe later” in a situation like this, what she really means is “get lost, I’m just trying to do my damn job here.”

Of course, the school is now facing harsh criticism for giving Farves a three and a half day suspension for his little Miss America prom invitation stunt. Oh, those heartless bastards! They’ve hit back at detractors, however, and are standing their ground:

“It is not our practice to discipline a student for asking someone ”” even Miss America ”” to a school dance. 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. This practice is not uncommon and happens every day, multiple times a day, in schools, businesses and homes across America.”

I think they hit the nail on the head here. Not only was Farves’ approach kinda rude, but he put Davuluri in a tough position. What was she gonna do, say no in front of hundreds of this kid’s peers? Not only that, but his prom shenanigans took attention away from Davuluri’s important message. She’s there trying to talk about the importance of including more women and People of Color in technology-related fields, and this kid is hitting on her. Yeah, I think he totally missed the point of her speech.

Even though Farves has shown some remorse, telling a reporter that “I understand that they (the school) feel disrespected. It wasn’t my intent,” teens are still teens and have taken to Twitter to express their pettish outrage under the hashtag #FreePatty:

Miss America Prom Invitation
Perhaps because Miss America is a grown ass woman, and not a high school kid?
Miss America Prom Invitation 2
Glad to see America’s youth has its priorities down straight.
Miss America Prom Invitation 3
Yup, Patrick Farves is right up there with Gandhi and MLK.

I’m sure I sound like a total “get off my lawn” stick in the mud, but hear me out. Davuluri came to the school to talk about the importance of diversity and technology. This message is especially important for young women to hear. Farves’ actions basically say “Oh, silly woman! Why bother your pretty little head with science and technology when you can go to the prom!” Maybe I’m getting old, but this just rubs me the wrong way. Now seriously, get the hell off my lawn.

*Update*

Davuluri, being the class act that she is, has made a statement asking that the school be lenient with Farves:

“I was flattered by the gesture although I am unfortunately unable to attend due to my travel schedule. I later learned of the disciplinary action taken and reached out to the school in hopes that they will reconsider their decision. Meeting and interacting with students across the country has been an important and rewarding part of my year as Miss America. I always encourage students to follow their dreams through education, and I’m inspired daily by the enthusiasm and aspirations of the bright young adults I have the pleasure of meeting through my travels.”

What an awesome woman. I still stand by my main point above, though. He deserved to be punished, even if just for breaking the rules and going against a direct order from the school.

(Photos: Getty Images/Twitter)

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