Anyone who has started university in the past few years and even before, has likely heard of initiations scandals. From being forced to drink toxic amounts of alcohol, to having to spend a night out in cold, treacherous conditions, the horror stories are endless. However, what some students might not know is that many universities around the country, including Edinburgh, have banned student society initiations. So, why are we still hearing about them all the time?
The Edinburgh University Sports Union policy states that “initiations are not permitted by any SU club”. However, in my time at the uni, I have witnessed some pretty horrible stories of students being forced to chug bottles of wine and pints of milk at their first sports club socials, then being left on the street outside of clubs in Cowgate by the people who are supposed to be “taking care of them” because they are too drunk. As we begin a new year at university, I am reminded of these stories and how it can feel as a fresher, alone in a new place, wanting to make friends and fit in, and being told you can trust the so-called “society parents” that seemingly have ultimate authority over you. In this description, societies and sports clubs don’t feel like the welcoming and supportive place they’re supposed to be. Instead, I am instilled with fear for incoming first years and must just hope things are changing.
It can be said there is hope for change in this backwards and archaic system of sports initiations: with the #FullTimeOnInitiations campaign gaining traction and more and more sports clubs pledging to end initiations. I’m glad to see more students standing up for the fact that these torturous and fear-mongering behaviours really do not have a place in student life – and I hope we can move on from this conversation soon.
“chug chug” by -miguelito- is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.