16-Year-Old Student Dies During Hazing

By Khaosod Eng.

PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN — A 16-year-old student diagnosed with leukemia died yesterday following a night of hazing by his senior classmates.

The student was brought to the emergency room yesterday morning by a group of other students, staff at Krung Thep Hua Hin Hospital in Prachuap Kiri Khan province told police.

The group told medical staff the student had drowned, and then quickly left the hospital, staff said.

Medical staff immediately rushed the student, identified as Pokai Saengrojrat, to the emergency room but discovered he had been dead for an hour.

Police say the Mr. Pokai was a part of a group of 40 students from a university in Pathum Thani that were participating in hazing activities on Sai Noi Beach. The purpose of the trip was to "initiate" new students through a series of rituals, known among Thais as rub nong.

Vendors at the beach told police they saw the students making campfires, drinking, and organising many hazing activities throughout the night of 29 August.

Em-orn Kongkaew, a restaurant owner on Sai Noi beach, said she saw senior students order freshmen to line up in the sea at around 11 pm and kick them one by one, causing the students to fall back into the water. The activities continued until morning, when the senior students noticed that one of the freshmen was lying face down on the sand and brought him to hospital, Ms. Em-orn said.

"I feel pity for the boy who died, because he was so young. I feel sorry for his parents," Ms. Em-orn said, "The authorities should take care of this. I don't want any other further rub nong incidents that kill people like this."

Mr. Pokai's parents told police their son was diagnosed with leukemia many years ago, although his condition has been improving over the last four years.

"My son asked for our permission to go on a trip to the sea with his friends and senior classmates, so we let him go," said Mr. Pokai's father, Panupong Saengrojrat. "I told him not to drink any alcohol, which he agreed to. But I received phone call from his friends this morning that he was at the hospital. We hurried to see him but he already passed away."

Mr. Pokai's classmates surrendered themselves to police after Mr. Pokai's parents arrived at the hospital, police say.

Police detained 30 of the students and interrogated them, along with other witnesses on the beach. However, police said they have not pressed any charges, as they are still waiting for official autopsy reports to determine the cause of Mr. Pokai’s death.

"The students who participated in rub nong activities insisted Mr. Pokin died on his own, not because he was assaulted," said Pol.Col. Ranapob Pattana, an officer at Hua Hin Police Station. "However, I have sent the body for autopsy at the Police Hospital to find a clear cause of death."

Rub nong rituals are common in many Thai universities and schools. While a number of universities opt for friendly initiation ceremonies, some schools are known for violent and abusive rub nong activities that involve assaulting students and forcing them to drink alcohol.

In recent years progressive student activists have campaigned to end rub nong practices, but defenders of the tradition say it helps promote the ideals of SOTUS - Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit - among freshmen.

In July 2008, a student at Uthenthawai University died after he was reportedly beaten by a group of senior students during a rub nong ritual.

Source: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1409475194

-- Khaosod English 2014-08-31

"In recent years progressive student activists have campaigned to end rub nong practices, but defenders of the tradition say it helps promote the ideals of SOTUS - Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit - among freshmen."

The bully and the thug can always justify their behaviour. Hazing is nothing more than violent bullying and all those involved in this death (if they were, not clear yet I admit) should be gaoled for murder/manslaughter/violent assault if they are responsible.

It's not about tradition, unity or spirit. It's all about intimidation and fear, little boys trying to make out they are "well hard" and need to be treated as such. They are cowards who need to learn that there are severe consequences for such violent behaviour.

Scum.

What happens if you don't go to these activities?

Please ban these obnoxious and cruel American rituals from Thai colleges. They have no place in Thai culture. Seniors should be expelled for hazing and banned from enrolling any other college or open university for 10 years to give them time to adjust their attitudes and grow up. Rectors and principals who allow hazing to continue in their institutions should be fired and never put in a position of responsibility for the welfare of young adults again.

I believe that would put a stop to hazing over night. Only the emotionally inadequate would thing something had been lost from the Thai educational system.

"The students who participated in rub nong activities insisted Mr. Pokin died on his own, not because he was assaulted,"

He died on his own but as a result of the vicious assault by these bullies.

An exception should be allowed to allow a Singaporean prison caner to give them 24 strokes each. They would never haze anyone again.

Please ban these obnoxious and cruel American rituals from Thai colleges.

...

Unbelievable. Blame America for this?

The whole SOTUS tradition sounds more american then Thai

"In recent years progressive student activists have campaigned to end rub nong practices, but defenders of the tradition say it helps promote the ideals of SOTUS - Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity, and Spirit - among freshmen."

The bully and the thug can always justify their behaviour. Hazing is nothing more than violent bullying and all those involved in this death (if they were, not clear yet I admit) should be gaoled for murder/manslaughter/violent assault if they are responsible.

It's not about tradition, unity or spirit. It's all about intimidation and fear, little boys trying to make out they are "well hard" and need to be treated as such. They are cowards who need to learn that there are severe consequences for such violent behaviour.

Scum.

I went to university during the years of love and peace. For freshmen we had the FAFFY Fair for the first few days where the various societies introduced themselves and tried to get freshers to join. I can't remember what it really stood for but it was always jokingly referred as "F0ck a friendly first year'. The rituals involved a lot of drunken parties but no one was forced to do anything they didn't want to do. We mainly didn't study or live with any senior years and many students didn't know any of their seniors, unless they were involved in clubs or societies with them. Why should they? I don't think the university missed anything by not having hazing which was designed by American military academies to toughen up new recruits and make them respect their seniors and authority. Even so, the US military has a problem with hazing, since the "friendly" deaths it causes are no longer considered appropriate even for the military.

Please ban these obnoxious and cruel American rituals from Thai colleges.

The ritual has been around long before there was even an America. Excerpt below of History of Hazing.

II. Hazing in the Past

The origins of hazing can be traced back to the founding of Plato’s academy in 387 B.C. (Nuwer, 1990, 1999). Plato likened such acts to those of wild animals and was quick to criticize the “practical jokes played by unruly young men that injured the hazed and citizens who got in the way” (Nuwer, 1999, p.92). Hazing incidents, which at the time were known as pennalism, became increasingly well documented in the Middle Ages as the prevalence of these incidents caused increasing problems for educators at all levels. Students of the time considered hazing to be a natural way to teach newcomers precedence:

The underlying idea ... was that the newcomer to the university was an untutored, uncivilized man, who had first to be polished before he could become a regular member of the university; before he could taste the sweets of a student's life he should suffer hardships (History of Hazing).

These hardships included physical abuse, subjection to course jokes and general humiliation; the later often taking the form of being forced to wear inappropriate clothes. All hardships were designed to make new students recognize their inferiority to upperclassman and to promote their substandard status. Traditional pennalism frequently ended after a student finished his first year of schooling and was celebrated with the newcomer paying for food and drink for all those present at his induction. In addition to the practices of pennalism, the English practice of fagging flourished at places like Cambridge and Oxford. Fagging was defined as “the right exercised by the older boy to make the younger do what he likes and what the younger one generally dislikes” (Nuwer, 1990, p. 117). Essentially every new student learned humility and etiquette by becoming a man-servant to an upperclassman.

Source .pdf

Such a sad story. Bullying in any form is to be abhorred. I am a little confused though, the unfortunate lads age is given as 16, but it then says he was at University. How can this be?

As Tywais pointed out this is not American in origin.

I don't see why everything negative must be laid at the feet of America or Americans.

Why not just stick to the things America IS guilty of, no need to make up new stuff,

and not assume every American approves of those things themselves.

Hazing is not a useful thing it only creates a pecking order and that is far from useful,

except in the small minds of those who can lead no other way, it does NOT breed teamwork.

Parents, proud to see their offspring taking up opportunity.

Devastated by the events unfolded, left alone with their sorrow pain and frustration.

What a horrible way to start a fresh start in life and a horrific way to end one.

My thoughts go out to the parents relatives and friends, may they find peace of mind.

Don't ban the event but bring them on campus and under the supervision of staff.

There's no excuse for violence and bullying.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

So terribly sad that any student should be hurt, let alone die, as a result of these stupid and barbaric acts.

A bit of good natured, non-violent fun as an "initiation" is probably fine, and I doubt anyone would complain, but the problems are compounded when underage students add alcohol to the mix.

My heartfelt condolences to the boy's family and friends. So sad to lose his life for nothing.

Please ban these obnoxious and cruel American rituals from Thai colleges.

...

Unbelievable. Blame America for this?

Thai Visa...believe it or not. It is incredible, the lack of knowledge displayed by some posters.

Please ban these obnoxious and cruel American rituals from Thai colleges.

...

Unbelievable. Blame America for this?

Thai Visa...believe it or not. It is incredible, the lack of knowledge displayed by some posters.

To be fair, you might want to blame Hollywood and the export of American Television series.

You will find hazing in many, many countries. It is certainly not related to American TV. As said before...was present throughout history.

Such a sad story. Bullying in any form is to be abhorred. I am a little confused though, the unfortunate lads age is given as 16, but it then says he was at University. How can this be?

There is a 15 year ole girl at the university I teach at. She attended an International school. I forget what she told me but something about the British curriculum and that enabled her to enter the university.

I had leukemia (ALL) at the age of 3 years and was exempted to participate even at the age of 6 years from most of all school activities. The order was issued to my step parents and school teachers at the time. Furthermore I ad two annual checkups all my life and only neglected it when I moved to Thailand 24 years ago.

With 40 years I had a relapse in Bangkok and the hospitals said stay away from any outdoor activities, holding anything heavy, stop diving and swimming in the ocean. When I carry my boy who is 10kg for over a minute I feel like passing out and have to give it quickly back to my wife or put him on the ground.

If a leukemia patient doesn't die on leukemia, he often has a heart problem or other health problems..

The parents also not at fault should have followed their son to keep an eye on him during the hazing from a distance so they are able to step in.

RIP

This is really disturbing and upsetting! The seniors of that Pathumthani University should have their identities along with that of their immediate families listed in the media and they should be kicked out from the University and never accepted at any Universities or Jobs and should be jailed for a very long time. Society should not tolerate such scum and also their famies should be ostracised!

My condolences to the family of the victim....must have been a bright kid to have been able to enter the Uni at 16 years and what a waste of such a bright life.

I repeat, the seniors involved and their parents should be made to pay. Must have been bad upbringing from loser parents that resulted in these trash!

Sadly now common in Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan. Do it in the US these days and the university would be sued out of existence.

I had leukemia (ALL) at the age of 3 years and was exempted to participate even at the age of 6 years from most of all school activities. The order was issued to my step parents and school teachers at the time. Furthermore I ad two annual checkups all my life and only neglected it when I moved to Thailand 24 years ago.

With 40 years I had a relapse in Bangkok and the hospitals said stay away from any outdoor activities, holding anything heavy, stop diving and swimming in the ocean. When I carry my boy who is 10kg for over a minute I feel like passing out and have to give it quickly back to my wife or put him on the ground.

If a leukemia patient doesn't die on leukemia, he often has a heart problem or other health problems..

The parents also not at fault should have followed their son to keep an eye on him during the hazing from a distance so they are able to step in.

RIP

Thanks for the information. I was already wondering what the "leukemia" had to do with the case.

It would seem the boy was indeed weak (as in under strength) and should not have participated or being forced through social pressure. Not easy with all kids though.

RIP

You will find hazing in many, many countries. It is certainly not related to American TV. As said before...was present throughout history.

Excuses, I might have been unclear. I meant that the image portrayed by Hollywood and American Television series may have been what lots of people remember nowadays.

Doesn't mean the image was correct, neither that basing your knowledge on Hollywood image is correct.

hazing should be banned worldwide , happens everywhere . Sad truth is that the weakest and most vonnurable are the easiest targets .

It not only happens in uni. it happened in coalmines , factory's , army . ect .

If ur a senior u should earn RESPECT not force it .

I feel sad for the parents .

Just ban it, it has never really worked other than put people into Categories which later will turn into school Killings or other violent related problems.

A SCHOOL IS FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING. not for fun, or games, or other things.

What happens if you don't go to these activities?

You get beaten harder, for much longer.

I'm surprised that with such a calm, kind, beautiful Buddhist nature, the Thais could possible have such a sub-culture.

Perhaps the teachers beating them as kindergarten and prathom students, sets the tone....

Very sad for the boy.

Just another example of 'respect' in this country.

You will respect me because I say so.

You will respect me because I am a couple of years older.

You will respect me because I have/I think/ I like to pretend more money/credit/parents money than you.

I will show no consideration for you but you must respect me.

The whole SOTUS tradition sounds more american then Thai

Why would you say that?