A year of hazing in Chiang Mai

[hoosier]

Complaints pour in on hazing activities

More than 100 reports of indecency, torture

SIRIKUL BUNNAG & PRASIT TANGPRASERT

Complaints about indecent hazing activities have deluged the Education Ministry's 1579 hotline, among them an accusation that seniors at a university in Chiang Mai forced freshmen to masturbate in front of them at a waterfall.

Meanwhile, Patiparn Inya-po, a mechanical engineering student at Rajamangala University of Technology Nakhon Ratchasima campus, who made a shocking revelation that students in senior years tied his penis up with a friend's to perform ''a tug-of-war'', and also burned his pubic hair, arrived at the Education Ministry yesterday with his father, Surasak, to give his account of the lewd acts to authorities.

Tossaporn Serirak, an adviser to the education minister, said the ministry has already received more than 100 reports of indecency and torture during initiation ceremonies at various universities.

Mr Tossaporn said most of the complaints were against Maejo University in Chiang Mai and various campuses of Rajamangala University of Technology and Rajabhat University. He said one of the most ''perverted'' cases occurred at the initiation ceremony of Rajamangala University of Technology Chiang Mai campus where seniors took freshmen to Huay Kaew waterfall, forcing the male students to undress and masturbate.

Those who resisted were told to line up with their hands behind their backs and pushed to the ground, Mr Tossaporn said, adding that two students quit the university subsequently.

At Rajabhat University Suan Sunantha, freshmen were made to sit under the baking sun from 8am until 6pm.

Maejo University's initiation ceremonies lasted all year long, with activities held every day from 4pm to 10pm, causing more than 300 students to fall ill, Mr Tossaporn said.

Hazing activities at Khon Kaen University's faculty of accountancy allegedly caused several injuries. Thammasat University's faculty of dentistry forced female students to imitate dancers in go-go bars, writhing their bodies around male students. Mr Tossaporn said the ministry would ask executives of universities facing complaints to help students improve their behaviour and treat others properly.

Mr Patiparn, meanwhile, said he absolutely would not return to his university but did not know where else to go because hazing appeared to be a problem at other universities too. Mr Surasak said he could not leave his son with seniors who put emotion over reason. ''That can cause my son some mental problems. I won't let that happen,'' he said.

Pavich Tongroach, secretary-general of the Office of the Higher Education Commission (OHEC), said the students who forced Mr Patiparn to perform lewd acts would be punished but ruled out expulsion.

Chuchai Torsiripattana, head of the mechanical engineering department of Rajamangala University of Technology Nakhon Ratchasima campus, tearfully apologised to Mr Patiparn yesterday and admitted fault for the incident that had soured the feelings of all Thai people.

Piyapong Yaemkosum, a university senior, said he and his fellow students were sorry for treating Mr Patiparn badly and they were ready for any punishment.

A student at Kasetsart University's Kamphaeng Saen campus also committed suicide. His family blamed the death on pressure and stress the boy suffered during the initiation ritual. The tragedy prompted the OHEC to call for cooperation from all universities to stop initiation rituals. But the Students Federation of Thailand on Thursday opposed the call.

Thammasat University yesterday also issued strict regulations on rituals, saying all activities for freshmen must not violate individual rights and new students should not be forced to join them.