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“Student representation at St Paul’s has historically been very strong - perhaps too strong,” said one student, who was not involved in the controversy and did not want to be named.

“But it’s been a force for good in the college, and has helped management drive cultural change in recent years.”

The tension boiled over when the warden, former St Paul's resident and Anglican minister Edward Loane, decided to rent out the college’s gatehouse. The Student Club Committee pushed back, running a Facebook survey asking for boys’ views on the decision to “rent out the gatehouse to randoms".

During the winter break, the SCC also also urged students to hold off signing the COVID-safe guidelines - a requirement for them to return to college - until they could discuss some of the details with management, such as how many visitors should be allowed in each room.

Seven students were reprimanded by college council for their rebellion. They then received a furious letter from Dr Loane about an "aggressive and disrespectful email [calling for COVID consultation] which was a completely inexcusable way of broaching an issue of concern".

He accused them of “deceiving the entire undergraduate student body with untruths” over the COVID guidelines, and rallying "support [for] your cause against me in a biased and defamatory manner." He said the students' actions were bewildering, unconscionable and reckless.

"The negative implications of your actions over the last two weeks are staggering," the letter said. 'The SCC needs to provide an unreserved apology to the College Council for the widespread damage your entitled, defamatory and deceptive communications have caused in the wider Pauline community."

He also demanded the students give staff access to the student council Facebook page, throw their full support behind the COVID guidelines, apologise publicly to students and staff, and make it clear within the apologies that the “boys do not [sic] run the college”.

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If they refused, they could choose between resigning from the college or being told to leave.

Three students responded with their own missive, in which they defended their approach, described their dismay and distress at the “intimidating” email, and argued it against the college's commitment to pastoral care and students' wellbeing.

They said they could not in good conscience comply with Dr Loane’s demands, so resigned. The others wrote an apology, which was sent to the whole community and acknowledged their "disparagement of the warden implicit in our reference to his taking six days to respond to our statement of concern".

One source familiar with the college said Dr Loane was making an effort to challenge the "old St Paul’s" culture of student hierarchy and over-reach. “It boils down to whether the boys call the shots, or the warden,” they said. “Some things die hard, and take a while to change.”

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But another source, also familiar with the college, said students had always been encouraged to play an active role in decision-making. “I have never seen a head of college treat students in that way,” they said. “They should be encouraged to show leadership, not told to stay silent.”

In a statement to the Herald, Dr Loane said the wellbeing of the college community was St Paul's highest priority, and management had been working hard to ensure it was safe. "St Paul’s expects the support of our students in implementing our COVID-Safe policies so they can have a safe, enjoyable and enriching semester.”

The students declined to comment.