Chicken Rugby & Goldfish Eating: Headteachers Call For End To Dangerous Sport Initiation Ceremonies

Universities Accused Of Turning 'Blind Eye' Towards Violent Initiation Ceremonies

Dimension-----I got lost in the desert baby....I found temples made out of paper.I had to write something down,But then i found myself alone.Then i let go of everything,Into another dimension.-------Its under a month until school starts back up, and then my life straps itself into this crazy rollercoaster, and it doesn't really slow down until Christmas. But just like ever rollercoaster I've ever been on, I sure am excited. Right now, is the calm before the storm. The classroom is empty, no teachers, no students, but soon, that dark room will be a bustling center of learning, for most people... that is, when I'm not in the back of the room in the corner asleep. ;)I wanted this one to be kind of dark, from a lower perspective, resembling a sort of 'dream world' just before sleep happens. This is what I came up with." data-caption="Dimension-----I got lost in the desert baby....I found temples made out of paper.I had to write something down,But then i found myself alone.Then i let go of everything,Into another dimension.-------Its under a month until school starts back up, and then my life straps itself into this crazy rollercoaster, and it doesn't really slow down until Christmas. But just like ever rollercoaster I've ever been on, I sure am excited. Right now, is the calm before the storm. The classroom is empty, no teachers, no students, but soon, that dark room will be a bustling center of learning, for most people... that is, when I'm not in the back of the room in the corner asleep. ;)I wanted this one to be kind of dark, from a lower perspective, resembling a sort of 'dream world' just before sleep happens. This is what I came up with." data-credit="ShuttrKing KT/Flickr">

Universities across the UK have been accused of turning a blind eye towards "repulsive" initiation ceremonies, by headteachers who are calling for action against the tradition.

Bouts of excessive drinking may be part and parcel for many students, but reports of animal abuse and stomach-churning dares are revealing a darker side to the university experience.

Eating dog food and biting the heads off of live goldfish were some of the dares said to be handed out by students, with one report from the Edinburgh University rugby club telling students to strip naked and play rugby with a live chicken instead of a ball.

The ceremonies were brought under scrutiny when senior education workers attended the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC).

“The stories nearly always involve nudity, alcohol and repulsive behaviour," said Andrew Fleck, headmaster at Sedbergh School in Cumbria. "Most pupils are embarrassed, but they say they have to take part if they want to go on playing sport.”

Chairman of the HMC sports committee, David Elstone, was equally condemning of the events, with The Telegraph reporting him adding: "Someone is going to get seriously ill and even worse. It is just a matter of time.”

The events range from the dangerous to the bizarre, with one report from The University of Exeter Athletic Football Club detailing an initiation ceremony that demanded newcomers kiss an eel called 'Colin.'

These 'hazing' ceremonies, which originate from the US, have led to numerous expulsions, and even prosecutions over the past few years.

Sociology Professor Eric Anderson at the University of Winchester has conducted research into the phenomena.

"These initiations are being increasingly banned, but that just forces them to go underground," he tells HuffPost UK. "Existing members want to haze newer members, even if the experience was awful for them."

"Research show that members who go through it feel a sense of loyalty to the tradition, and once they buy into it they have to convince themselves that it's worthwhile."

Anderson added that whilst it has been done by female teams, the problem mostly lies with men.

"When people, particularly men, get power, they like to use it. That kind of power corrupts even good people."

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