.......a journey called life

I definitely agree that some people will be victimized just to set an example for the rest of the crowd. But then think of it from the university's point of view. Where do they draw the line? What should they do to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.
I guess this is something which is happening in all parts of the world today. Be it incidents of ragging in college, unethical acts in companies or cheating in colleges. Examples are set to make sure that such things are not repeated again and if they are repeated then people can expect the outcome beforehand.
Even though i do sympathize with the students i still feel that there was not much the school could have done about it anyhow.

@ Vineet

I know what you mean...That is why I was so equivocal in my writing. This is something for which I have no solution and yet the current arrangement makes me uncomfortable. From my experience, I have seen that a sense and feeling of camaraderie is responsible for these uninvolved people to be a part of the punishment even though they did not do anything wrong. Reminds me of Charlie Brown from the movie, "Scent of Women". Mr Slade (Al Pacino) gave a remarkable speech in the last scene when the discilinary committee was about to restricate Charlie Brown for not speaking up against their batchmate:

Read the scene script...I am not claiming that there will be a Charlie Brown in that list of students but in most cases, there are some:

You're buildin'a rat ship here,a vessel for seagoin' snitches. And if you think you're preparin' these minnows for manhood, you better think again, because I say you are killin' the very spirit...this institution proclaims it instills.

What a sham.

What kind of a show are you guys puttin' on here today ? I mean, the only class in this act is sittin' next to me.

I'm here to tell you this boy's soul is intact.

It's non-negotiable.

You know how I know ? Someone here, and I'm not gonna say who, offered to buy it.

- Only Charlie here wasn't sellin'.

- Sir, you're out of order.

I show you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask.

I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, too fuckin' blind.

If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take... a flamethrower to this place !

Out of order ? Who the hell you think you're talkin' to ?

I've been around, you know ? There was a time I could see. And I have seen. Boys like these, younger than these, their arms torn out, their legs ripped off.

But there is nothin' like the sight... of an amputated spirit.
There is no prosthetic for that.
You think you're merely sendin this splendid foot soldier... back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are... executin' his soul !

And why ?

Because he's not a Baird man.

Baird men. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of you.

And, Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, fuck you too !

Stand down, Mr. Slade !

I'm not finished.

As I came in here, I heard those words: "cradle of leadership."
Well, when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall, and it has fallen here. It has fallen. Makers of men, creators of leaders. Be careful what kind of leaders you're producin' here.

I don't know if Charlie's silence here today... is right or wrong;
I'm not a judge or jury.
But I can tell you this: he won't sell anybody out... to buy his future !

And that, my friends, is called integrity.

That's called courage.

Now that's the stuff leaders should be made of.

Now I have come to the crossroads in my life. I always knew what the right path was. Without exception, I knew, but I never took it.

You know why ?

It was too damn hard.

Now here's Charlie. He's come to the crossroads. He has chosen a path. It's the right path. It's a path made of principle... that leads to character.

Let him continue on his journey.
You hold this boy's future in your hands, Committee. It's a valuable future, believe me.

Don't destroy it.

Protect it.

Embrace it.

It's gonna make you proud
one day, I promise you.