NUS suspends all student-organised freshman activities
All student-organised freshmen activities have been suspended at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
This follows a video that surfaced today (July 29) showing the dunking and ragging activities that were conducted at Sheares Hall on Wednesday (July 27).
A statement said that the University is "deeply disappointed" in the students who carried out the activities despite earlier instructions not to.
"With immediate effect, all student-organised team-building activities for freshmen at NUS (such as orientation camps, and freshmen activities in Halls, Residential Colleges, etc) are suspended until further notice," said a spokesman.
The statement added that those responsible for "unacceptable freshmen activities" as well as "unauthorised freshmen activities" will be brought before the University's Board of Discipline.
"The instances of unacceptable behaviour and activities that have surfaced this week play no part in a university education."
The NUS statement in full:
The University has received recent information that there have been instances of unauthorised and unsupervised freshmen activities despite the University's earlier instructions on this matter. We are deeply disappointed that some of our students have flouted the rules and behaved in an unacceptable manner in organising freshmen activities.
The unauthorised activity featured in the video that is circulating online was a residential activity that took place in Sheares Hall on 27 July 2016. Dunking or any other form of ragging is strictly banned under the university's guidelines for student activities. The University takes a very serious view of this breach, and is currently conducting an investigation.
With immediate effect, all student-organised team-building activities for freshmen at NUS (such as orientation camps, and freshmen activities in Halls, Residential Colleges, etc) are suspended until further notice. Those responsible for unacceptable freshmen activities as well as unauthorised freshmen activities will be brought before the University's Board of Discipline.
The Freshmen Inauguration Ceremonies, Welcome Receptions by Deans, Heads of Department and Masters, as well as Faculty and Department briefings, will continue as scheduled. The NUSSU Rag and Flag activities, which raise funds for 22 Singapore charities, will continue.
Freshmen orientation activities at NUS serve to welcome and introduce our freshmen to the university community. The University expects that orientation activities are carried out in ways that are fully respectful of the dignity of all those participating. Our students, particularly freshmen, must feel safe and secure at all times during orientation. The instances of unacceptable behaviour and activities that have surfaced this week play no part in a university education.
The University is conducting thorough investigations into these unacceptable as well as unauthorised activities.
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