The National University of Singapore (NUS) will investigate after it was reported that students were forced to participate in sexualised inductions.
First year students at one of Singapore’s top universities, NUS, were forced to act out a rape scene as part of a forfeit during an orientation camp. The Straits Times reported my students being forced into sexualised activities,
“one [student] was asked whose bodily fluids she would like to drink, while another watched her peers re-enact an incestuous rape scene.”
The orientation camps are student-run and are designed to welcome first years into university and campus life. According to the university, student leaders who run the camps are supposed “to develop meaningful orientation activities that will help forge new friendships among our freshmen.”
One student said,
“Every time I didn’t take part, I was so scared that the orientation group would write me off as a prude and ostracise me”
A 19-year-old freshman said that she was traumatised and that she wanted to cry during many of the activities.
“The girl had to lie on the floor, then the guy pretended to kick open a door and say, “Kor kor (big brother) coming.’ The girl had to respond, “Mei mei (little sister) don’t want.”
“He then kicked open her legs and did push-ups while lying on top of her. The girl looked very uncomfortable and covered her face throughout the whole thing.”
NUS has promised to take “strong disciplinary” action against those responsible. In a statement, the university said,
“NUS does not condone any behaviour or activity that denigrates the dignity of individuals. These activities are neither approved nor endorsed.”
“The University takes violations of the Student Code of Conduct very seriously. Disciplinary action will be taken against students who breach these guidelines.”
Hearing the news that the university was going to take action, one student said, “it’s high time this issue is underscored and something done of it. Those who argue that people should just ‘lighten up’ miss the fundamental point about basic respect.”
A spokesman for the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) called these activities “alienating rather than bonding”. Criminal lawyers said police reports should have been made.
According to the BBC, reports of inappropriate activities at freshman camps at Singaporean universities surface every year.