College initiation rites make 25% of the high school graduating class feel anxious about entering college. A survey by the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC) and the Girls’ School Association (GSA) was conducted on 2,815 students.
Rumors about college initiation rites
Public knowledge of initiation ceremonies especially through social media raised concerns for incoming college freshmen. The anxiety created among incoming college students is inevitable. Universities are trying to come up with the best comprehensive guideline in relation to university organization ceremonies.
Peer pressure contributes largely to the decision making of freshmen in joining a club or society. School officials constantly remind their students to be more vigilant in choosing the right club to be in.
Several accounts of initiation practices discovered by school officials terrified them. Some initiation rites include rubbing chili on genitals, catching a dead rat in a barrel of water using their mouth, cooking oil poured over the eyes, eat live fishes, consume dog food, and or get intensely intoxicated.
University officials see it as degrading, dangerous, risky and mentally triggering.
What concerns the university is the involvement of alcohol and prohibited substances during these initiations. Under the influence of alcohol and other substances, the initiation might get out of hand and pose a more serious problem.
Initiation rites are getting more extreme
Earlier this year a 20-year old Newcastle University student died after a society initiation. This incident forced Universities UK (UUK) to publish a more detailed guideline in governing college activities and started the Newcastle Charter.
The charter is tasked to facilitate proper education on conducting club ceremonies and emphasizing the intensified disciplinary actions against organizations practicing prohibited behaviors during initiation rites. Organizations should be oriented on the risks of inappropriate behaviors during initiation rites.
Additional college life concerns
The social environment of a university plays a key role in a student’s decision making. Freshmen prefer to go to a university where they feel comfortable with, have good school policies and favorable student composition.
University finances have always been a major concern for students. This issue might not be as life-threatening to initiation rites but definitely education threatening.
