UNIVERSITY INITIATIONS: Clampdown on hazing

BANGKOK: -- No more freshman parties this year as authorities look to regulate annual ‘welcome’ ritual

University initiation rituals – which most freshmen dream about but which can turn into a nightmare if the hazing aspects are taken to extremes – are facing a clampdown following last week’s tragedy and recent bad publicity.

The suicide of a freshman upset with his new life at Kasetsart University’s Kamphaeng Saen Campus coincided with the results of a poll released just a few days earlier which showed initiation ceremonies are notorious for alcohol and drug abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of violence.

The Commission on Higher Education is circulating instructions to universities to put a halt to all initiation parties for the new semester, paving the way for written rules to control the parties in the future.

Off-campus initiation parties have been banned, most likely forever, and so has intimidation, known as “Wark”, by seniors. The practice, involving lots of shouting and sometimes punishment, is aimed at enforcing discipline or respect for seniority, or simply creating fun.

The commission’s move represents the biggest setback to the long-established tradition which has added much fun to university life but which has been marred by intermittent tragedies including deaths over the years.

“We know the majority of activities are conducted in good faith, but there has been real concern and bad feelings among the public,” said Pavich Thongroj, the commission’s secretary-general.

“It’s not worth allowing the activities to go on this semester. They should be halted now. As for next year and after, rules will be written to set limits on the activities.”

He admitted the initiation rituals originally were intended to be good fun and beneficial, and in that sense they should be maintained, albeit under close surveillance.

“If we completely ban all activities, the kids will sneak out and do it outside their universities and this will be a bigger headache,” he said.

One of the rules would be to have the “freshies” and their parents give their consent before the students join in initiation activities.

Many school students look forward to the university initiation parties, which vary in degree of fun, humiliation and physical demands – depending on the unique traditions of individual institutions and faculties. Some youngsters have been turned off by the violence and sexual harassment.

The Kasetsart freshman had told his parents before shooting himself that his seniors had put him under pressure during an initiation rite which included an embarrassing “masturbation” dance. But the university insisted that it had been keeping close watch on initiation ceremonies and that the young man must have had other problems.

The commission’s move is expected to spark wider debate on the pros and cons of the ban as well as the tradition itself.

Adul Wiriyavejjakul, rector of Maha Sarakham University, said while violence exists in some quarters, the ritual is a traditional part of university life.

“If you stop the kids from singing and dancing, what would they enter university for?” said Adul. “But I’m sure all universities have realised the potential for violence and the risks of off-campus activities and are dealing with the matter.”

Sompong Jit-artharn, 45, a parent of a university student, supported the plan to impose restrictions. “The lack of control and the creativity of today’s youngsters, many of whom have strange and adventurous ways of thinking, can turn horrible sometimes,” he said.

Noppadol Sinpisut, a third-year Rajabhat student, did not agree with a “blanket” clampdown on a traditional activity just because education authorities had failed to deal with certain groups.

“Now society will read news about the ban and assume that university initiation parties are really a bad thing,” he said.

--The Nation 2005-06-13

UNIVERSITY INITIATIONS: Clampdown on hazing

Adul Wiriyavejjakul, rector of Maha Sarakham University, said “If you stop the kids from singing and dancing, what would they enter university for?”

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Hmmm...nice quote from a university rector