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University hazing sex-pic sparks witch hunt

Posted by Rick Salasar

University hazing sex-pic sparks witch hunt
The Education Ministry has ordered an investigation into the source of photographs of students performing simulated oral sex at a university hazing.

Thosaporn Serirak, adviser to the education minister, yesterday showed the photos to the press.

The pictures, posted on the pantip.com website, showed female students performing simulated oral sex on male students. The performance was witnessed by about 30 female and male students who cheered as they watched the show.

The ministry will track down those students, he said. Once the university is identified, the ministry will ask the students involved to show responsibility for this inappropriate act, said Mr Thosaporn.

He said the ministry will consult the Higher Education Commission about possible punitive measures against those involved.

He urged parents of students or those who had information about the pictures, particularly those who took part in the show, to immediately contact the ministry via its website: www.moe.go.th or telephone number 1579.

The ministry has also asked the Higher Education Commission to investigate.

The commission's call for a halt to this year's initiation rituals following last week's suicide of a freshmen received mixed reactions from administrators at various universities.

Kasetsart University rector Viroj Impitak said he has already signed an order to halt this year's initiation activities for all faculties despite strong opposition from the university students' organisation.

However, traditional activities organised by the university such as the wai kru (paying respect to teachers) ceremony and activities related to university development would continue, he added.

Thawee Chim-oy, deputy rector of Thammasat University's student affairs section, said the university would today hold a meeting with student panels from all faculties to work out suitable measures on hazing.

The university will not force students to halt all initiation activities since hazing rituals had merits, he said. The rituals helped foster unity among students.

He said the university had made it clear to senior students that no violence was allowed in the rituals and activities must not violate the rights of freshmen

Mr Thawee said the ''shouting'' practice in which senior students shouted at fresh-men during the initiation rituals was not permitted.

The university has also banned off-campus initiation activities.

Adul Viriyavejkul of Mahasarakham University said activities for freshmen would proceed as planned.

He disagreed with the commission's call for a halt to this year's initiation rituals, saying all activities, if halted, would make universities joyless and lifeless.

He criticised the commission for turning a trivial thing into a big issue.

Education Minister Adisai Bodharamik said he disagreed with nonconstructive rituals. All universities have been asked to put a stop to initiation parties for the new semester.

New rules and clear guidelines on hazing would be written to make rituals more constructive, he said.

Meanwhile, representatives of student organisations from 14 institutes resolved that the ministry's call for a halt to this year's initiation rituals was not a ban. The students' organisations will consult university administrators about initiation activities.

Source: Bangkok Post

Posted Jun 15, 2005 at 03:39 PM | Permalink |