School sexual assaults to be investigated

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 16 (UPI) -- A private prep school in Canada has ordered an investigation after four seniors were charged with sexually assaulting younger students, officials said.

A senior official of the University of Manitoba has been hired to conduct the external investigation at the elite St. John's-Ravenscourt School, the Winnipeg (Manitoba) Free Press reported Sunday.

The four senior male students allegedly assaulted as many as 15 younger male boarding students last fall, and have been charged with sexual assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and uttering threats, the newspaper said.

St. John's-Ravenscourt describes itself as an "independent, co-educational day and boarding university prep school."

David Morphy, U of M's vice provost of student affairs, began a special investigation at the Winnipeg school last week, including a review of the school's practices and policies, especially regarding its boarding school, the Free Press said.

Stephen Johnson, head of St. John's-Ravenscourt, said the final results of the investigation would be made public.

"This is what a great school does in a crisis," Johnson said. "You don't try to bury it or hide it."