University of Western Sydney students deny hoodie hazing problem
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Version 0 of 1. Students at the University of Western Sydney deny there is a problem with hazing rituals at the Hawkesbury campus in Richmond, after they were banned from wearing initiation-related nicknames on hoodies. Students were sent an email last week reminding them of the university’s zero tolerance policy towards hazing and bastardisation, and specifically noted the wearing of “mott names” on visible clothing, Fairfax reported. “The university will not tolerate any behaviour or activity that involves bastardisation, motting or hazing,” said the email, seen by Guardian Australia. “Any students living in UWS residential colleges could also have their accommodation suspended or terminated.” Angelo Kourtis, the UWS pro vice-chancellor (students), told Guardian Australia the issue – specifically related to the Hawkesbury campus – is not new, but had come to a head because students this year had begun displaying the nicknames on hoodies bought from the university. “We don’t find these so-called nicknames acceptable, because we do know that it’s linked to a set of behaviours and rituals that are designed to intimidate and subject students to unacceptable hazing and bastardisation practises,” Kourtis said. “The display of the so-called mott names actually contravenes university policy, which is a zero-tolerance approach to this sort of behaviour. This is part of the code of conduct for students.” Kourtis said while there had been no complaints recently, students had come forward anonymously in the past to raise issues with hazing. “Mott names” are understood to be bestowed on first-year students who live on campus by older students in their third year, and are often specifically designed to demean or humiliate the recipient. They sometimes have a sexist or racist nature or refer to an experience the student went through during O-week, and there is a suggestion that students are sometimes coerced into displaying the name on clothing. Students interviewed on campus by Guardian Australia denied the claim, saying the nicknames were “randomly assigned” from a list of nicknames at the beginning of each year. “In the first week when you move onto campus you get a bunch of mates, you get a nickname, basically to build a sense of community so you’re a part of it,” said Andrew, a third-year student with the mott name “Mykonos”. “If you don’t want a nickname you don’t have it. If you like it you keep it, if you don’t, you don’t.” Zachary, a second-year student with “Rex” on the back of his jumper, said he asked the meaning of his assigned name in first year, but was also told it was random. He disagreed with the university’s move to enforce the ban on displaying names. “We don’t have the university’s name on there, we don’t have [Campus Living Village] name on there. We’re not tarnishing their name at all. We’re just trying to stay warm,” he said. Callistus Egbu, president of the campus student council, said the reports of hazing were surprising. “I only got the news yesterday and tried to speak with some students who I know are leaving campus, but none of them knew anything about it,” he told Guardian Australia. “I’ve not heard of any such things [hazing] but I wouldn’t say it’s not happened. No one has ever mentioned it to me. It might be something going on in secret.” Egbu said international students made up the majority of students who lived on campus, but they hadn’t told him of any hazing. “I’m not sure if they’re holding anything back from me or this is just not going on.” Zahraa Ahadzada, a third-year student at UWS’s Campbelltown campus said the “mott names” tradition did not happen on her campus, nor had she heard of any hazing problems. “[First years] get along very well, they do their own thing,” she told Guardian Australia. “The years are not very connected in terms of knowing each other or having that kind of interaction.” Do you know more? Contact helen.davidson@theguardian.com |