[Seriously?] Student societies: ‘Hazing to include Code of Conduct’

Last week, 49 student societies signed the 2024 Code of Conduct, a document in which they promise to respect the mental and physical well-being of their members and to create a safe environment. From now on, learning the code off by heart will be part of the hazing ritual.

Learning it off by heart is not an easy task, explains Marie-Claire Plas te Redt, Introduction Period (IP) Committee Official. ‘The Code of Conduct is quite a weighty tome at 40 pages, while the average candidate has the brains of a turnip.’ Everything possible will be done to help the first-years hone their memory skills. ‘During the IP, aspiring members will have to recite the Code of Conduct out loud while crawling around the society premises on their bare knees. Our working hypothesis is that the combination of physical and mental exertion will increase the chance of them retaining these important facts.’

Aspiring members will have to recite the Code of Conduct out loud while crawling around the society premises

The candidates will be woken up regularly in the middle of the night to answer questions on the code. For example, what does it say about hearing damage or discrimination? (Both to be avoided, ed.) ‘That might seem to violate the Code of Conduct rule that new members should get enough sleep during hazing — er, I mean the IP. But we will make sure they can catch up on sleep at other times, such as during dinner.’

There were discussions at various societies about the code rule stating ‘aspirant members must not be required to maintain secrecy regarding IP activities’. Plas te Redt: ‘Of course, they’re traditionally not allowed to say anything about the abuse and humiliation they suffer from seniors. If first-years were suddenly allowed to tell all, you’d create a hugely unsafe situation for the people doing the bullying, and we need to avoid that. So while we stress that in theory aspiring members are free to talk about their experiences during the IP, we strongly advise them not to admit to any active memories of what happened. We got this tip from someone who was a member of the Dutch government until recently, but I can’t reveal who for privacy reasons.’

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