"Ragging means the doing of any act which causes, or is likely to cause any physical, psychological or physiological harm or apprehension or shame or embarrassment to a student, and includes:
(a) teasing or abusing of playing practical joke on, or causing hurt to any student. or Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, Indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities which causes or Is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not do in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student; or
(b) asking any student to do any act, or perform any thing, which he/she would not, in the ordinary course, be willing to do or perform."
February 2008 Newsletter of the Society Against Violence in Education
A fren was telling me how she had to stay up chatting with her cousin who was crying on campus during orientation week. I wasn't surprised. I've heard countless of stories of how freshies - esp girls - end up crying themselves to sleep every night during orientation week - that is if they get any sleep at all.
The horror stories i hear are aplenty. Of course, things are not so bad as they were 2 decades ago - when the infamous "Serdang Hele" was reported to the authorities. This was where the seniors would tie one end of a string to a junior's penis and the other end to a ceiling fan blade. The fan would be turned on - low speed first and then higher. the poor guy would have to run around the room to keep up with it!
It's not so bad now - unlike how it is in some other countries where death results from over-zealous ragging. Still, the freshies are treated badly. They are humiliated, scolded, deprived of sleep (which is considered a cruel and inhuman and degrading treatment under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights) and are subjected to great physical exertions. Most of the freshies come from close knit families from outstation. They are probably away from home and loved ones for the first time in their lives - and this is what they face in their first week of Uni life.
Why???????????
Is it a Malaysian thing? Or a third world country mentality? Funny how in Wikipedia, countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are specifically mentioned to practice ragging (see here).
I did both my under-graduate and post-graduate studies in a UK institution. Let me tell you that things are so different there!!! During the orientation week, we have the Freshers Fair! It is so fun! Societies set up stalls to publicise their activities. It's almost like a carnival atmosphere. There'll be activities all over campus. Tours will be organised. At UoE, we conducted tours to town - and i was a tour guide! :-) It was fun! And i got paid too!
Proud member of the Freshers Squad!
At the end of the week, there'll be a big party.
Shouldn't that be how an orientation programme is organised? Make the new students feel at home, welcome them, be of assistance to them. To most of the freshies, it is a scary experience. Some are from far away - perhaps from a different country. It is a totally new experience for all. They need all the help and support they can get during the initial stage.
Unfortunately, here in Bolehland, the orientation week is prolly the worst time in their entire Uni life. So much so that when it comes to their turn to organise the next orientation week, they will do the same thing which they suffered in the past. A vicious cycle.
Malaysia boleh!
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