University of Otago's clocktower building. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The University of Otago fears someone could be killed or seriously hurt at flat initiations as events become increasingly associated with absurd, dangerous and depraved behaviour.
The university has stepped in to stop initiations going ahead, warning students in a letter seen by RNZ that there was "genuine concern that one of these events will result in serious harm or death to a guest".
The Otago Daily Times today reported two women were forced to strip to their underwear and called "piggies" during an initiation, while reports have surfaced of students mistreating ducks and a live eel.
A group of students told RNZ they recently planned to hold an initiation for new flatmates involving drinking and eating sardines, but were visited by Campus Watch the night before and given a letter warning they could be expelled from the university.
One of the flatmates Elise, who did not want her surname used, said the group was annoyed but decided it was not worth the risk.
"I get the banning of initiations because a lot of them have got out of hand, particularly the animal abuse - but it was annoying when we got the letter because it was like 'Why us?' when ours was going to be innocent," she said.
"We had a lot of flat discussions about what we were going to do, how it was going to pan out and to make sure it was safe and everyone was okay."
The letter from deputy proctor Geoff Burns said the Proctor's Office was aware the flat was hosting an initiation event and warned of the potential for bullying, intimidation and harassment.
"There is a genuine concern that one of these events will result in serious harm or death to a guest. For that reason, the Proctor's Office undertakes this proactive prevention work yearly, seeking to address the risk by educating you as potential hosts of an event," the letter said.
"Please be aware that there is a power imbalance between your guests and you as hosts. Please be mindful that this imbalance can quickly lead to bullying, intimidation and harassment.
"Your guests are human beings and there is an expectation of them being treated with dignity and respect."
The letter warned the students that flat initiations could breach the code of conduct and result in hosts being expelled from the university.
"Any activity involving humiliation, nudity, assault, bodily fluids, bullying, intimidation or harassment would fall well short of expectations and would be investigated by this office as serious misconduct. If proven the university has historically held the hosts more accountable than the guests and we have expelled hosts from the university as part of the consequence," Burns said.
"If despite this information you chose to continue and host an event - think carefully about whether you invite a large number of guests to watch, historically the guests watching can encourage antisocial and harmful behaviour in which you as hosts get caught up in and things spiral out of control quickly. It will be you as hosts that will be investigated and if proven, held accountable.
"Historically students under investigation have advised that they did not know, or that there was a mixed message provided. This email removes either excuse, you are now informed and there is no mixed message."
Another flatmate, Izzy, said she had participated in an initiation as part of the ritual of taking over the flat last year.
"We just had to drink a lot and eat tuna covered in flour, so it wasn't that bad at all," she said.
Elise said her initiation was not dangerous or humiliating.
"It was nothing like animal cruelty or physical abuse or getting yelled at or anything. It was just a harmless initiation," she said.
The University of Otago said it was investigating the claims involving animals, although so far it had not found any evidence to suggest students had bitten the legs off live ducklings.
"The university became aware of the alleged incident involving an eel prior to the article being published in our student magazine Critic and immediately began investigating as an alleged serious misconduct matter. Police have been informed as part of the process. Local iwi have also been advised and cultural advice sought," the university said.
"Despite investigating allegations regarding ducks, we have not yet found any evidence to date. The University of Otago takes these allegations extremely seriously and any assistance from the community to help us identify those allegedly responsible is crucial. We urge people with knowledge of any student activities that involve harm to animals or humans to contact us via the Proctor's Office, the Police, OUSA and SPCA."
Quintin Jane. Photo: Supplied / University of Otago
University of Otago Students' Association president Quintin Jane said hazing rituals were relatively new and were not a part of the student culture.
He said they were designed to embarrass students and the initiation involving the live eel was unacceptable.
Police said they were not aware of any formal reports about flat initiations in recent years.
"Local police have been advised by the university of an incident involving an eel, and that they are making enquiries into the matter," a spokesperson said.
"Police visit and have prevention conversations with students as well as people who register their parties through the Good One party register.
"Police would like to remind students to please engage your brain before acting. We want you to enjoy all that is great about being a student in Dunedin, but not at the expense of someone else or someone else's property.
"Our goal is for students to be safe and feel safe while having a good time and working hard, we love the energy students bring to the city, however, please leave any anti-social antics at home."
'Zero tolerance' to initiation events - university responds
The university is investigating about half a dozen initiation events - including claims live eels were used - and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
Student Services director Claire Gallop said initiations were banned under the Code of Student Conduct, but there had been some "ghastly" reports and there were more events this year than in the past few.
"They can get out of hand. I think sometimes students can think they're having a bit of fun and unfortunately, in the heat of the moment with peer pressure, with alcohol, then things develop. So that's why we approach it from zero tolerance," Gallop said.
The university has received two extremely serious allegations involving animals in initiations.
"Investigations are currently under way regarding an initiation involving an eel however, despite investigating allegations reported by the Otago Daily Times involving ducks, we have not found any evidence that this incident occurred."
The university had not received any complaints from those involved in initiations this year, but had received several reports of them occurring, she said.
"For a number of years, the University of Otago has undertaken proactive prevention and education work to educate students about the harm initiations can cause and to encourage students not to participate.
"While some flat initiations have been held this year, as a result of careful work by the Proctor's Office, some planned events have been cancelled."
But Gallop said for change to happen, the work needed to be student-led.
Letters were sent out mid-September to flats planning initiations.
This type of behaviour did not represent the vast majority of students or the student culture which was very positive, Gallop said.
'Makes your blood boil'
University of Otago student magazine Critic - Te Ārohi broke the stories about the initiation rituals.
Editor Fox Meyer told Checkpoint he had seen photos and videos where the rituals "get pretty horrific".
Some initiations were innocent and in good spirit, but in others, people had bottles and eggs thrown at them, "drinking until they're forced to vomit ... anywhere but the ground".
"So, the potential for harm is absurd."
Meyer said some of the rituals "makes your blood boil".
In some instances, he said new flatmates were given a shopping list and asked to bring items - including alcohol and food - amounting to more than $1000.
"One of the lists called for a student to bring a live duck but we have no evidence that it happened. It could've just been a scare tactic. One of the reports we heard from a student was that none of the people involved could catch a duck so it just wasn't brought."
Meyer said the "power imbalance", between the students who were only about a year apart, "is extreme".
