To some, the act of twerking is a near-spiritual form of expression. To others, it’s “basically a slutty dance derived from strip clubs” (via Urban Dictionary). But to 33 San Diego students, it’s the reason they won’t be returning to Scripps Ranch High School this week. The entire group was suspended after using school equipment to film a twerking video on campus, during sixth period no less, and then uploading it to YouTube.

For those unfamiliar, “twerking” is the act of bouncing and jiggling one’s booty in an unnatural/acrobatic manner. The most popular version of the act finds the participant in a handstand, feet propped against a wall while the aforementioned activity is taking place. Major Lazer producer and Mad Decent boss Diplo has strongly embraced the phenomenon, and his #expressyourself Twitter photo meme continues to this day.

In the above clip, one male student proudly poses next to dozens of female dancers introduced as the Scripps Ranch High School Twerk Team. YG’s “You Broke” plays over the footage, which school administrators claim violates their zero-tolerance sexual harassment policy. As Gawker points out, the Student Handbook prohibits “verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature made by someone from or in the educational setting.”

The seniors who were involved are at risk of being banned from prom and the Class of 2013’s graduation ceremony, reports NBC 7. “I just think it’s not that big of a deal,” one parent told the station. “It was just expression — maybe overly expressive I guess.” Many of the students’ peers have hit social media to protest the punishment, inspiring the trending topic #freethetwerkteam. Diplo has also created one of his own: #expelyourself.

The last time we heard about high-schoolers getting in trouble was for that “Harlem Shake” flash mob fail in Queens. It’s worth noting that the song that started that movement was released on Diplo’s Mad Decent label. Coincidence? Or part of a diabolical scheme set in motion by the shadowy forces that buff Jamaican cyborg is always at war against? #freetheuniverse