Tag: NUS

They were warned not to conduct inappropriate activities for freshmen but did so anyway.

Now, because of a handful of undergraduates, all student-organised freshman activities have been suspended at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The activities suspended include Orientation Week, also known as O Week, a five-day event that was scheduled to happen next week.

It was to be the final orientation camp before the school semester begins.

The unexpected measure follows the controversy over how some of the games at the orientation camps had become sexualised.

The last straw appears to be a video that surfaced yesterday, showing students conducting dunking and ragging activities at Sheares Hall on Wednesday.

In the video, four students can be seen grabbing a limb of another student and dunking him into a body of water repeatedly while singing.

This was also carried out on a female student.

Another segment of the video then showed topless male students crawling on the floor while chanting obscenities.

NUS has since confirmed the video.

In a strongly-worded statement to the media yesterday, a spokesman for NUS said such activities were not condoned but were still carried out despite previous instructions on the matter.

“We are deeply disappointed that some of our students have flouted the rules and behaved in an unacceptable manner in organising freshmen activities,” she said.

“Dunking or any other form of ragging is strictly banned under the university’s guidelines for student activities.

“The university takes a very serious view of this breach and is currently conducting an investigation.”

The spokesman added that all student-organised team-building activities for freshmen have been suspended until further notice.

The New Paper understands that ongoing camps were stopped halfway because of the suspension, and the participants were told to go home.

The suspension and video come in the wake of current investigations of the union camp and arts camp at NUS.

On Tuesday, TNP reported that orientation games at some of these camps had become sexualised.

In the report, one freshman told TNP that she was asked whose bodily fluids she would drink, while another watched her peers re-enact an incestuous rape scene as part of a forfeit.

Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung also put up a post on Facebook on Wednesday evening, condemning the sexualised activities at NUS’ orientation camps as “reprehensible”.

Yesterday, the NUS spokesman said that those responsible will be brought before the university’s board of discipline.

“The instances of unacceptable behaviour and activities that have surfaced this week play no part in a university education,” the spokesman said.

“The university is conducting thorough investigations into these unacceptable as well as unauthorised activities.”

EXCEPTIONS

However, some activities for the freshmen are to continue.

The spokesman said: “The freshmen inauguration ceremonies, welcome receptions by deans, heads of department and masters, as well as faculty and department briefings, will continue as scheduled.

“The Nussu Rag and Flag activities, which raise funds for 22 Singapore charities, will continue.”

NUS undergrad Janella Ooi, 21, is a committee member of one of the events that was affected by the suspension.

She said they had spent about half a year planning the event and a lot of their own money.

“We are really sad because our juniors put in a lot of effort and now it is completely undone,” she said.

“But personally, I understand (the decision to suspend activities), and I was extremely appalled by the forfeit that promoted rape culture.”

She added that Orientation Week was to be a time for freshmen to get used to university life, but that opportunity has now been taken away.

She said: “I feel that NUS could perhaps have some official who could oversee the activities to ensure that these rules are adhered to strictly.”

Miss Hui Yan, 26, a marketing executive and NUS alumna, said she was previously a camp facilitator and feels that the rest of the school is being punished for the actions of just a few.

“It is an incredibly superficial and shortsighted move on the school’s part, thinking that removing a one-week event will solve deep-rooted issues of sexual harassment and misogyny once and for all,” she said.

“Careful planning has gone into the logistics in terms of ensuring overall safety and modesty at most of the camps.

“And organisers will feel frustration and betrayal by the school authorities for seeking a short-term solution instead of formulating a proper resolution in view of the amount of time (that has) gone into planning.”

 

Source: The New Paper

 

Source: The New Paper

National University of Singapore (NUS) is promising that “strong disciplinary action will be taken” against those responsible for inappropriate orientation activities.

This follows a report in The New Paper concerning sexualised orientation activities. Activities that have continued despite complaints over the past decade.

One student complained that her peers were made to re-enact a rape scene as a forfeit, while another was asked whose bodily fluids she would like to drink.

Netizens expressed outrage with many calling for swift action to be taken against the camp organisers.

Readers also contacted The New Paper and said that it was unbecoming of the school.

Madam Josephine Ng, 46, a mother of two daughters aged 12 and 14, told TNP that the activities are ridiculous and embarrassing.

“When I read the article, I could not believe it. I’ve read past reports, and this is not excusable,” she said.

“Enough is enough. It has been a whole decade and yet nothing has changed.”

“Such activities have a long term impact, not just on students, but on Singapore’s image as well.”

Mr Seah Kian Peng, member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Education, expressed surprise that such “unnecessary and humiliating” games have not stopped despite complaints over the years.

He told TNP: “They have definitely crossed the line. During the planning process, the leaders should just ask themselves – is this something they would want their younger siblings to go through. If they had a daughter, would they want her to experience this?”

Earlier this evening, NUS released a statement:

The National University of Singapore (NUS) takes an extremely serious view of the recent media report and feedback on instances of offensive and completely inappropriate orientation activities.

Orientation is intended to welcome and introduce our freshmen to the NUS community. The University expects that orientation activities are carried out in ways that are fully respectful of the dignity of all those participating, regardless of gender.

We do not condone any behaviour or activity that denigrates the dignity of individuals, and that has sexual connotations. Our students, particularly freshmen, must feel safe and secure at all times during orientation. If they decide to opt out of an activity, their wishes must be respected.

As is the practice each year, before the start of this orientation period at NUS, the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) had conducted sessions with the students involved in organising and leading orientation activities, including student orientation leaders from NUS Students’ Union, Clubs, Societies, Freshmen Orientation Committees, project directors, and Residential Hall Junior Common Room Committees.

During these sessions, OSA went through with the student leaders the do’s and don’ts of orientation, as well as banned activities. It was mandatory for these students to go through the written materials with examples of “do’s and don’ts”. Students were also made aware that strong disciplinary actions will be taken against offenders. In addition, all proposed orientation programmes and activities had to be endorsed and cleared by the relevant supervisors, such as Hall Masters and Vice Deans, as well as OSA, before they could proceed. Students were asked to remove inappropriate activities.

Separately, from the beginning of the year, OSA had worked with the Deaneries in Faculties, and the Masters of Halls and Residential Colleges on the necessary steps needed to ensure the acceptability of all planned student orientation activities.

We are very disappointed that despite these efforts, instances of offensive and completely inappropriate orientation activities that were not submitted nor endorsed have surfaced. We take these reports very seriously, and are carrying out thorough investigations. Strong disciplinary action will be taken against those found responsible.

OSA has met with the student leaders of the ongoing and remaining camps, and briefed them on the guidelines for acceptable orientation activities. NUS staff will also be on site at these camps.

Any student who has concerns with orientation activities can contact the NUS Office of Student Affairs at [email protected] on a strictly confidential basis.

 

Source: The New Paper