Hockey Club fined following initiation video
The University of York Hockey Club (UYHC) has been fined £200 by the York Sport Committee, following a complaint regarding an initiation video filmed last weekend.
In a blog post yesterday, York Sport President, Emily Scott, stated: “After receiving a complaint about a video showing initiations held by the Hockey Club last weekend, the York Sport Committee discussed the issue and decided to fine the Hockey Club £200.”
Citing YUSU’s social policy, Scott condemned the practice of initiations, noting that: “Socials (and the activities within) are opt-in only & shall have no bearing on any team selection, status within the club/society, or club/society elections.”
She went on to point out that: “Members of YUSU will not apply what may be perceived as peer pressure upon individuals in any social situation,” and that “the term ‘initiation’ will not be used. It is an inappropriate term for inclusive socials.”
Breaches of the rules of the Social policy can result in several different sanctions upon clubs at the University. These can include such penalties as a fine, but in some cases expulsion of clubs or individuals from York Sport and “freezing of bank accounts.”
Mark Inman, UYHC President, issued a statement to Nouse, saying: “All socials and any aspects of them are entirely optional and alcohol is never an integral part. This has always been made clear. The welfare of our members is extremely important to us and I believe UYHC to be one of the most socially inclusive clubs on campus.
“There are numerous members of the club, past and present, who have not participated in anything of this nature and are revered players of teams throughout the club. This is not, and never will be, a requirement.”
Inman went on to say that he felt UYHC had not broken Social policy rules: “As far as I am concerned we have complied with all aspects of the YUSU Social Policy. We do much better than most other clubs on every single point mentioned.”
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really… i know for a fact that freshers had to eat dog food cat food and a block of lard. and then down a dirty pint which contained sardines. Serves hockey right! shit club shit banter and shit at sport!
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Probably explains why they aren’t up for team of the year
lolz
Regardless of whether or not participation in these kinds of activities is deemed compulsory or likely to enhance someone’s standing in a team, I take issue with anyone taking part in such an activity. Drinking and consuming other such things likely to induce violent vomiting in public is disgusting, indecent and antisocial verging on criminal.
I feel both President’s should resign with immediate effect for bringing the club into disrepute.
they were effectively drinking homemade emetics. there are major health risks associated with emetics such a mallory-weiss tears. £200 is quite lenient in my opinion.
@Last time. You’re a first class mug. UYHC – Awesome Club, Great Chat. Who are you? You are insignificant.
@k
I don’t understand how you can defend people leaving milk out to go off for 4 weeks mix it with dog and cat food then forcing freshers to drink it as acceptable/encouraged.
It’s ridiculous.
President’s of the hockey club should be ashamed and I am disgusted the university hasn’t done anything more.
Lets take a look at facts shall we jerk-offs….
Womens 1′s captain… not ‘initiated’.
Womens 2′s captains… not ‘initiated’.
Mens 2′s captain… not ‘initiated’.
Mens 1′s player of the year… not ‘initiated’
– to name but a few.
This event is optional and for individuals usually at the heart of the club wanting to participate in an age old tradition. As made obvious by the above statements those who do not wish to participate are not excluded from playing hockey nor does it effect their chances of selection.
Oh, and Jay Sean… both presidents have resigned, do one.
All that remains to be discussed is how YUSU will repay the money, I’m sure cheque or cash will be ok by Mr. Harrison (Club Treasurer).
This is bloody hilarious!! ‘Emily Scott condemns UYHC’ – she was president last year and oversaw an ‘initiation’!
@ last time, mallory-weiss is only caused after long-term vomiting and/or coughing and you assume too much from the article. worse things happen on a Wednesday night in Ziggys……KNOWLEDGE BOMB
David Brent: People see me, and they see the suit, and they go: “you’re not fooling anyone”, they know I’m rock and roll through and through. But you know that old saying, live fast, die young? Not my way. Live fast, sure, live too bloody fast sometimes, but die young? Die old. That’s the way- not orthodox, I don’t live by “the rules” you know. And if there’s one other person who’s influenced me in that way I think, someone who is a maverick, someone who does ‘that’ to the system, then, it’s Ian Botham. Because Beefy will happily say “that’s what I think of your selection policy, yes I’ve hit the odd copper, yes I’ve enjoyed the old dooby, but will you piss off and leave me alone, I’m walking to John O’Groats for some spastics.
Don’t assume. It makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.
what a load of shit it was brilliant!!
Obviously someone is trying to make an example of ‘initiations’ and it just so happens that UYHC has taken the hit. I have heard of much worse things going on in initiations in other clubs, are people trying to seriously suggest that clubs such as Rugby and Football dont run equally disgusting initiations for their freshers? Anyone that thinks that is the case is an idiot. Will YorkSport taken action on every club that runs initiations next year? If, as i suspect, they wont, what does that say about yorksport?
Over half of the york sport committee have been initiated. Now go be a good journalist.
“I have heard of much worse things going on in initiations in other clubs,”
genuinely interested in what could be worse than what they’ve stated! aah and people do it?!
people are old enough to decide for themselves, unless it was a case of ramming it down their throats i don’t see a problem with it? people know that eating gone off milk, dog food, fish, etc isn’t going to be good for them, we’re all >18 so what’s the problem?!
As a hockey fresher I hated initiation and I felt pressured to conform and drink vile concoctions. I don’t want to be outcast from the squad but I really disagree with the club’s behaviour this time.
I felt under pressure from the older hockey boys who were attempting to get me drunk and take advantage of me and succeeded. I woke up the next day in a strangers bed feeling used, empty and misled.
@ex hockey fresher thats because the only way hockey boys can pull is to prey on poor drunk vulnerable freshers!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=94425&id=222305981&ref=pb
just saying…..
i love how the photos are labelled initiations no escaping the fact eh?
First off, it’s worth pointing out that everyone who participated in the initiation was asked if they wanted to take part in it. This made the whole thing optional, and the only problem appears to be the name.
Secondly, events such as these are supposed to be a bit of fun. The risk of any activity adds to the enjoyment, and students would know about the risks beforehand before participating.
@ Last Time
I love it when the virgins crawl out the woodwork when there is a bandwagon to jump on.
Jog on.
@ddd
“people are old enough to decide for themselves, unless it was a case of ramming it down their throats i don’t see a problem with it? people know that eating gone off milk, dog food, fish, etc isn’t going to be good for them, we’re all >18 so what’s the problem?!”
This exact same argument is used to justify the legalisation of heroin. Care for a free shot? I thought not.
@It’s a bit of fun.
“First off, it’s worth pointing out that everyone who participated in the initiation was asked if they wanted to take part in it. This made the whole thing optional, and the only problem appears to be the name.”
What an absolutely pointless statement. All questions have implied meanings, and in this case, I’m sure the implication would have been “do this or face weeks of ridicule”.
Initiations are barbaric.
The Union, and therefore York Sport, is funded by a per capita grant. I will state right here that I don’t want ANY of my money going to sports clubs who condone this. And I’m pretty sure the vast majority of students at York would agree with me – which in a democracy means NO funding.
Emily Scott took exactly the right course of action. If anything, the neanderthals in the Hockey club should have been fined more. But I doubt they have enough fingers and toes to count that high.
UGG.
Everyone knows stuff like this is optional and the term initiation is branded around as a scare tactic when really you will find that initiations take place every day without anyone caring for example baptisms, bar mitzvah and most military passing out parades. In this case the a club has used the term initiation whereas it was clearly a social theme – for the critics choose from the list below…
In music:
* Initiation (album), by Todd Rundgren
* Initiation (Tommy Emmanuel album), a 1995 album
o “Initiation” (song), by Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel
* Initiation (P.A.L album)
* Initiation (Course of Empire album)
* Initiation (Rhea’s Obsession album)
* a song from AFI’s album The Art of Drowning
* a song by At the Drive-In
In science:
* Initiation (phonetics), the action by which an airstream is formed in the vocal tract for producing sounds
* Initiation (chemistry), a chemical reaction that triggers one or more secondary reactions
* Initiation, the process of beginning gene transcription
* Initiation as beginning of gene translation
In spirituality:
* Initiation (Theosophy), a concept about the levels of spiritual development
* Initiation (guru), a ceremony of accepting a guru
Television episodes:
* “Initiation” (The Office)
* “Initiation” (Justice League Unlimited)
* “Initiation” (Kung Fu: The Legend Continues), the pilot episode
* “Initiations” (Star Trek: Voyager)
SHIV A GIT…didn’t think so….
@ last time
you are not welcome on this ship
@Malcom Tucker,
You are a massive square, i think you should leave this page, and continue rubbing one out to The Sims.
Stop funding to clubs that do initiations? So, stop funding to all the biggest clubs at York.
Douche.
Who cares. Hockey is a sport for people who aren’t good enough for anything else.
Who uses the insult square anymore?! Are you stuck in the 1990s?
Don’t have a cow man.
On a serious point:
“Stop funding to clubs that do initiations? So, stop funding to all the biggest clubs at York.”
I’ll think you’ll find the biggest clubs in York would stop running initiations. Which is the whole point.
Do you not understand the logic? I’m not really sure I can simplify it any further.
What about the whole fiasco with their ‘Wife beating social’. They condone violence to women and…they are lightweights anyway.
I don’t play hockey, I wish I could. However, I’m no good at it. I’ve watched the hockey club a few times this year and they’re a great bunch, to get personal and insult all those who play hockey is embarrassing.
“Hockey is a sport for people who aren’t good enough for anything else” – What a load of rubbish.
They’ve made a mistake in publishing the initiation videos, perhaps you could say they’ve made a mistake by holding initiations, but by the same token all clubs do it. Certainly the other big sports on campus do. But, like with those other clubs, you’ve got to look at the team spirit in the hockey club, they play for each other and if making each other eat disgusting things and drink unbelievable amounts of alcohol each year helps, so be it.
I’m not saying it was wrong to fine them, just suggesting that all those criticise just calm down a little bit.
People should look back up this thread, and read or re-read
the “ex-hockey fresher” post. That says it all. The fact that
similar things happen in other contexts is irrelevant. It’s
no better than an arsonist saying that there are lots of other
arsonists out there, so pick on the other ones. And telling
people they can opt out is not good enough, because there will
always be peer-pressure there, and many, many students at
York are, realistically, not mature enough to make the right
decision in that situation. So that choice shouldn’t be there in
the first place. And if that sounds patronising to 19- and 20-
year-olds who like to think of themselves as having the strength
and self-knowledge of someone twice that age, when very often
they don’t, then so be it. The overriding thing needs to be that
situations like the ones described don’t arise again. I know quite
a few members of the Hockey Club, and in my opinion it won’t
properly change until a couple of people like Billy, who seem to
have more respect and weight than anyone else, stand up against
it. It MUSTN’T happen again, guys. If the above post had been
written by your sister/girlfriend, would you be saying “well, she
could have said no” or “worse things happen in other clubs”?
Don’t get blinded by defensiveness on behalf of the club. If you
can’t resolve situations like these, then the club isn’t something
which is worth defending in the first place. Just read the above
“ex-fresher” post, focus on what’s going wrong, and fix it properly.
Take heed of the ex-fresher comment, but don’t take it as fact either, it could easily have been made up.
@Hockey Observer,
All you need to do is run around and hit a ball with a stick. To get in York men’s 1st you just need not to be blind. Although if you are you could probably still get in….if you lend them £200
At least your not the hornets. Long live the KING
@ Malcom Tucker
Playing hockey has no bearing on your academic abilities. Making shit jokes about sports players’ intelligence, when they are at the same university as you, says a lot about you. You are clearly a complete gimp.
@Malcolm Tucker
They wouldn’t stop them they would just make them more secret.
You’re clearly not a sports player. ‘Initiations’ have a lot to do with being included and becoming part of the group. I’m reckoning you have very few friends! BOOM
@ A.O.B
LOL – I notice you’re not even attempting to argue with the substantive point about initiations. Were the words I used too long for you?
Also:
“Playing hockey has no bearing on your academic abilities”
Neither does going to the same University, I’m afraid. Entry grades, course structures differ hugely by degree type.
@ S.O.B
“You’re clearly not a sports player. ‘Initiations’ have a lot to do with being included and becoming part of the group. I’m reckoning you have very few friends! BOOM”
Hahahaha – thank you for making my point for me. They might very well be amusing for some individuals, making them feel part of the club. But they also put a huge amount of people off.
And that’s the point. Initiations are discriminatory.
More civility please ladies and gentlemen. Arguments are stronger without resorting to random insults.
@ S.O.B.
I’m not sure which side you’re on, but you’ve hit the nail on the head by saying “You’re clearly not a sports player. ‘Initiations’ have a lot to do with being included and becoming part of the group.”
Exactly. So why should you have to down ten pints through a fishes’ head or drink off-milk to become “part of the [UYHC] group”?
You shouldn’t. Which is why these things should be banned.
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@ MT…can i call you MT? sounds like a cool sports name if you played any
“Playing hockey has no bearing on your academic abilities”…but constantly writing on this post does!
ACADEMIC BOMB!!
this is pathetic…if it happened at any other uni, it wouldn’t even make student newspaper news. Whatever happened to character building? Initiations bring teams closer together, both second and third years have been through initiations themselves. It’s been blown way out of proportion.
Do you know what the most ironic thing is? All the York sport committee are ‘initiated’ into York sport.
Quick question: Nouse has covered everything ranging from the marginalisation of female academics to Hockey club initiations… how about covering the ISA elections as well? Despite all the good efforts of the committee, the ISA will never become well known if it continues being ignored by the student media!
A.
if you dont like initiations….then dont attend?! as previously mentioned, its not compulsary, no one is forced into it, its just abit of banter. but clearly, some peoples crack is so horrendous, they dont understand this concept! Yeah initiations do get messy, but the hockey clubs is nothing compared to what us lot do at rugby. think everyone needs to man up to be fair. freshers pay to get initiated, if your gonna complain about it and get all this hype raised, why waste your money. the people that are bothered probabley arent even in a sports team..otherwise, they would surely know what goes on… and therefore if they arent in club, whats it got to do with them anyways???
@joe bloggs what are you talking about something like this did make news at another uni, not only did it make student press it went national does anyone remember the nazi initiation and the public out cry which followed. If anything its a good job that this hasn’t gone any further i would hate for the hockey club to damage our universities reputation!
Personal insults are pointless. It’s pretty obvious hockey players aren’t idiots and that skill is necessary to play hockey. Mount your high horse about initiations of which you know very little if you want (ten pints through fish heads? Never happened. Suggesting that all of what was given was actually ingested is also ridiculous), but getting personal when you’ve clearly never met these supposed knuckle-dragging dullards is only an indication of your lack of self-worth and need to hide behind a computer screen to achieve some kind of validation.
Depressingly for you, Malcolm, that was an observation as opposed to an insult.
@joe bloggs and the rest of the pro-initiation clan.
You’re pathetic. How is drinking something that’s dangerous to your health “character-building”? Initiations doesn’t bring teams together – it just stops those who dislike initiations being part of the team, and pushes those who enjoy getting wasted and drinking disgusting things to the top of the intake. It’s the reason that many of the York Sport committee have been part of it – but if you take it to them as part of an agenda item, I assure you that it won’t be unanimously supportive of initiations.
And the biggest issue is the one written far above by an ex-hockey fresher, who clearly states that their initiation was horrendous and forced them into bed with someone. If it happens once, that should be enough to ban it. We’re talking about “building community spirit” versus “having a dramatically detrimental effect on someone’s life”. What’s the best thing you get out of it? Better friendship. What’s the worst? AIDS, a trip to the hospital for food poisoning or something much worse than that. Students have ended up in the river after terrible nights out and you’re damn right that YUSU are going to criticise anything that leads down that road.
Ok so there are far worse stories in the world, including a fortnight ago – “there are questions over the death of a college student from Memphis. Police say he was beaten to death while being initiated into a gang” but that doesn’t excuse something milder.
And Aris, have the ISA talked to Nouse and Vision? Have they even publicised it? I just googled, facebook searched and various other things – other than the groups/events I’ve been invited too, I can only find an event for yesterday’s hustings. I can’t find anything that says anything about voting – other than “the election itself will take place online from 7th June (Mon) 12 midnight till 11th June 12 midnight (Fri)” on the aforementioned event. Maybe if the ISA talked to York media then they’d get further! I have actually given details to URY and it’s going in their news tonight – but they weren’t told anything about it from the ISA so can you blame the media?
York has failed me. Obviously none of you have been properly educated as fagging is a long standing public school tradition which should always be upheld. People with authority making minions know their place is an essential form of character building which York, like numerous other universities, should embrace.
These freshmen need to know their place and on entrance to such a popular club should be initiated. FACT.
Get a proper education and adhere to tradition.
I think Arrogance is winding people up.
“But getting personal when you’ve clearly never met these supposed knuckle-dragging dullards is only an indication of your lack of self-worth and need to hide behind a computer screen to achieve some kind of validation.
Depressingly for you, Malcolm, that was an observation as opposed to an insult.”
Posted by “Twix”. Bahahahahahahahaa!
As everything a sports club does has to be passed and agreed to by the President(s) surely they should pay the fine not the club as a whole.
On the point of initiations, they have always existed, still exist, and will always exist. Its nothing new however as has already been stated, they are opt-in events, those not wishing to take part do not, and are not excluded from the club as a result, as has been mentioned by a lot of obviously non-sports players.
just to point out that no-one was beaten to death, received aids, food poisoning, alcohol poisoning or anything similar…..
im finding it strange that no-one is commenting about the Charles letting the hockey club use their facilities…….oh no wait cos its too easy just to blame the club.
congratulations to malcolm tucker and the like who have turned what was essentially a common occurrence in sports and life (see some thread above) into something horrendous that should be punishable by death. im guessing malcolm that you dont play sport, and im sorry to say it shows.
Dont you think its better to have peer pressure than no peers at all??? ey malcolm?
“I’m guessing malcolm that you dont play sport, and im sorry to say it shows.”
You couldn’t be more wrong – I’ve played rugby pretty much all my life. Interesting, never at University. Why? Because of things like this.
“Dont you think its better to have peer pressure than no peers at all??? ey malcolm?”
They’re not mutually exclusive, so this statement is ridiculous.
@ Arrogance:
You legend. That needed to be said. York is full of state school scum bags who need to know their place in a hierarchal system. Initiations are a bit of fun and as far as I am aware all the people who attended the ‘Freshers Lunch’ made it to the Presidents ball in the evening. Those of you who oppose the idea of initiations need to go out, get lashed and experience the student life.
I myself am a hockey fresher, I was not initiated because I chose to take no part in them. This choice did not affect my participation in any of the other activities that day such as the ball, so I was not excluded or outcast as people have suggested.
Further, I find it hard to believe that ex hockey fresher’s story is real, which many others have quoted. Perhaps the timing of initiations is the biggest clue to this – well after the end of the hockey season, so how would this affect team selection. I have been welcomed into the club by everyone this year, from the outset, regardless of my choices about whether or not to attend socials etc.
From what I have seen (through experience and not an article as an outsider), the hockey club has provided a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. The suggestion that a player’s selection would be judged on their social/initiation participation is pretty ridiculous – I know this from personal experience!
Cheeky
I see no reason to doubt the authenticity of the “ex-hockey fresher”
post (way up on this thread), as I’ve seen that kind of thing going
on at the hockey Christmas port thing. Groping, and a girl looking
very shocked and upset. Perhaps things won’t improve until the elder statesmen like Rob, Billy and Lion summon up enough moral courage to condemn this kind of stuff outright, instead of expressing, at most, mild disapproval. Someone inside the club needs to take the lead on sorting this out….
@anon:::
honestly, you should pipe down….you don’t have a clue what goes on within the hockey club, and shouldn’t make false statements.
go find something worthwhile doing, perhaps actually do something productive, join a sports team, get a social life, anything to stop you refreshing the nouse home screen trying to pretend you have friends to talk to.
i find it hard to believe that a club would actually select a player because of drinking ability. It’s absurd to say selections is on social standing the hockey team compete at university first team level they go out and represent the university every Wednesday. I am really getting annoyed with all the haters who come out of the wood work and slate the sports teams. I have a strong feeling the haters are bitter people who aren’t good enough or don’t participate.
As for ex-hockey fresher if she has enough courage to post about her ordeal on here why has she not reported the incident to YUSU or the police, to stop it happening why is it only now it surfaces that she felt mis-treated.
The ‘ex hockey fresher’ is not real!!!! I think ‘Just to point out’ is the only comment that needs to be read (not that the others aren’t valid) as it is an informed, accurate account of how an ACTUAL hockey fresher feels.
The much tamer girl’s initiations did bring the team together, they were fun, and were a little bit icky as that was all that was required. I would be gutted if I hadn’t done it this year, as they won’t be happening next year! It will be a day I will remember and laugh about. However, I do agree with the fine as the boys did get a bit excited with the lard.
But no-one was arrested or hurt, some of the lads even enjoyed it, and then went to a ball afterwards. Great weekend.
(apologies if she is real!)
Jason, you really should start typing your name again! You are getting lazy…
A good journalist finds the story, he doesn’t wait for the story to come to him! Surely someone should have noticed events on facebook? Or even bother to ask. Anyways, thanks for spreading the word!
Sorry for hijacking this discussion.
A.
i cant be bothered to read all these comments so have no idea if this has been said but…………
For me it is quite simple…..I’m guessing (hopefully) all the people who took part in this initiation were 18 or older and therefore old enough
to make decisions for themselves. If someone should choose to take part
in activities such as eating dog food, downing dirty pints or taking shits in each others mouths or what ever else happened i say let them go for it. we do live in a free country after all.
i’m sure no one was held at gun point and forced to do any of these things.
Aris, while a good journalist does indeed search out a story, the ISA elections are not even close to a story.
Until at least, they end in catastrophe, secret handshakes, and embarrassment
“This exact same argument is used to justify the legalisation of heroin. Care for a free shot? I thought not.”
I choose not to take heroin because I’m scared of needles, and the idea of laced drugs. I’d choose not to drink blended dog food, gone off milk, and goldfish for the same reason that I’m scared of the health implications.
BUT if some one wants to do heroin, wants to eat that shit, or tbh wants to shit on themselves and roll around in their room I really could care less. They’re not being forced to do it, asked to do it, etc. It is an OFFER. It’s up to the person receiving it to make the right decision, and if they’re incapable of denying month-old milk and egg drinks at 19 lord help them through the rest of their lives.
Whilst idiots drinking down goldfish mixed with dog food is much more of a story, huh? Or the one about departments such as computer science lacking female academics? Yeah, these are real news…
A.
Wouldn’t it be good if a national news service got hold of some of these photos…I have them myself and really might send them off…how about sending the entire batch to whoever administers the interuniversity league?
What ever some Hockey brown noser says It is not opt out, you are pressured into the situation and have to do it. Except from the total none drinkers the rest are forced to degrade themselves for the sake of the arrogant people in charge. I just think the whole initiation thing is pretty sad. The people in power are just trying to show off in front of some naïve freshers. Anyone sticking up for this has totally lost self respect, backing something that is bloody degrading. Who has the right to make people drink this stuff? I can understand socials where people who want to get drunk get drunk but freshers downing this sort of stuff is not right. Ex hockey fresher could be real. And this crap about York being a place for rahs who need to find there place. It’s the bloody rahs that organise these initiations, thinking they are better than everyone else whilst claiming they are a so called ‘lad’. The 200 quid fine is valid stop crying about it, go on another gap yeah this summer and I’m sure you will forget it about it. OMG you lot down some disgusting stuff, totally lads……..
l-o-o-o-o-o-o-l loooolz looooolz
@ mr anon
We did it in week 25 of our first year. I’m fairly sure we weren’t “naive freshers” at this point. Don’t patronise us freshers with your speculation as to what happened. Of course it was opt out. You do not know better. You are an idiot.
Mr anon, I agree that a minority of the people (‘lads’) running it are too arrogant to see how degrading it was for, again a minority, of the boys that were very clearly under a lot of peer pressure. People with power should not abuse it by making people that may not be confident enough to say no. It’s a bit strange to get pleasure out of making people be sick. I agree with initiations when they’re fun and a BIT embarrassing, but these were far too disgusting.
You are blowing everything out of all proportion. Everyone was given a choice, it was none compulsory but encouraged as a bit of fun. There is a bit of chat between people who have got together after 25 weeks of knowing each other and playing in a (very successful) season together.
It was not an initiations, it was a celebration of a year, welcoming back old boys and girls with the old tradition taken with a massive pinch of salt.
On average about 25% max of what was seen at the fresher lunch was consumed. An amount that was not damaging or even that bad.
If anything it was actually good fun, a laugh designed to bring people closer together, and you know what? It worked. This article has served to bring the club closer together, unified around each other. Standing tall sholder to shoulder, initiated together!
Grow up all.
I think initiations are great…
Who cares if some weak Fresher can’t handle it?
Man up, I say.
True lads don’t do initiations. That’s only for sh*t LADS.
Aris, yes, this is a bigger story than the ISA elections, which are communicated through emails and publicised with posters and whatnot.
This represents a little bit of investigatory journalism (primarily by Vision?) and offers students the opportunity to share their thoughts not just on this specific initiation, but the other initiations that are common here.
It is not a groundbreaking story. It is not a ‘new’ theme. But students are undoubtedly interested and both Nouse and Vision have provided a forum in which it can be discussed.
I am sure if you ask nicely they’ll put up a banner for the ISA elections, complete with comments thread so the 30 people or so who are involved can bitch at each other.
Are there ISA Elections happening at Cambridge, Aris? Why would a York student newspaper cover them?
Question, since you know I go to Cambridge, you know who I am… why not man up and reveal who you are as well? It’s easy being sarcastic anonymously, isn’t it?
To the previous poster: by the same logic, rags that feature Jordan also capture the public’s attention – this does not make them good newspapers. The ISA attracts far more that 30 members – they host weekly events, trips to other cities within England, balls, sports tournaments etc. However, if their events are attended by fewer people than expected, that’s exactly because they do not get any press coverage.
Also, you should start posting under your name as well. Are you too scared to criticise the ISA under your name? Or are you embarrassed of your opinions? In any case, those involved in the ISA sacrifice a lot of their free time to support their fellow students, and they deserve some respect.
Finally, I would expect more from students who attend one of the UK’s top universities. I don’t think we deserve to be included in the top 10 if our students resort to cheap sarcasm and anonymous insults instead of engaging in mature discussion.
A.
I meant 30 people getting involved in the elections, standing for positions.
I overheard a few potential candidates questioning someone in Student Records today. Seems there’s some controversy over who gets to vote and how the info regarding International status is transmitted from the University to YUSU/ISA.
So chin up Aris, there might be a story soon.
Not at all scared of criticising the ISA under my real name, did it plenty of times when I worked for the GSA, but I’d really rather my name not pop up in a google search for hockey initiation
What does this story have to do with the ISA Aris?
NOTHING – that’s what.
@ Aris
What’s your problem with Jordan? It’s an interesting place
True, this has nothing to do with the ISA, so this will be my last post on the matter.
You don’t have to write your last name you know! You don’t have to be anonymous. You don’t have to I tell ya!
I bet it is – if only it got more coverage….
A.
Were the goldfish bought at a pet shop?
And how were they killed?
I’d quite like to know that too
@ Dan Crehan
I don’t even know where to start with your post. Are you actually Dan, or has someone stolen your identity?
“People need to realise that initiations are an essential part of a sports club, they create a bond that helps a team gel together.”
No they’re not. Rugby clubs in the real world don’t have them, and nor do plenty of sports clubs at York. What you’re saying is *you* like them. The essential parts of a sports club are just that: sports and team spirit. Both of which can be obtained without degrading initiations.
“The next morning we can all get together and talk about all the hi jinks of the night before etc. you know what I’m talking about boys ”
You can do that after a normal social, with no particular focus or target of humiliating freshers.
“The more people are drinking, the messier the night will get and the more stories there will be in the morning. When I look back at my uni life, I want it to be filled with these stories, rather than boring seminars or all nighters for a next day deadline.”
Not everyone wants that.
Union funded sports clubs should have the fewest barriers to entry as possible. Moreover, they are funded to allow individuals to play sport. If you want to form a drinking club, do so. But don’t expect to get a York Sport grant. If unnecessary initiations put just one member of the Union off from joining, they simply shouldn’t happen.
Note by moderator: The comment referred to has been deleted
@ Aris
“Question, since you know I go to Cambridge, you know who I am… why not man up and reveal who you are as well? It’s easy being sarcastic anonymously, isn’t it?”
No it’s actually really hard. Winding you up is the most difficult thing on this earth.
Derwent once again showing why they are the laughing stock of college rugby. Maybe put a bit more effort in to training rather than initiations and your team might not be so ridiculously swag?
BRRRRING!!
@ Malcolm Tucker
“Neither does going to the same University, I’m afraid. Entry grades, course structures differ hugely by degree type.”
I am a medic and played hockey last year. Sorry, are there many degrees that are harder to get into? And you are studying.. ?
Not that this is relevant in the slightest – fancy trying to counter any of the substantive points?
I’m studying the impact of goldfish digestion on young adults. Would you mind filling in a survey for me?
Haha i’ve clearly been Nouse raped. I’m hardly going to introduce myself as all round Derwent superstar.
But if I am going to be roped into this debate I think it’s pretty silly for people to get their knickers in a twist over initiations.
I would argue that some sort of welcome challenge actually includes freshers more than it excludes them making new players feel more part of the team, as it’s easy for people to stick to their year group mates on socials ignoring new guys and not getting them fully involved.
And to Andy Powell if second place in the league constitutes a laughing stock then i think you need to go laugh at all the colleges bar James.
I also like your use of ‘BRRRING’.
I just wish i was as cool as you.
@ Malcolm Tucker, although I agree with your general points, this statemnet is not true.:
“People need to realise that initiations are an essential part of a sports club, they create a bond that helps a team gel together.”
No they’re not. Rugby clubs in the real world don’t have them.”
Even at England Senior level, a player winning their first cap must sing a song infront of the team and then share a drink with every player in the matchday squad. The drink is decided by each player individually.
This generally ends in mess.
Malcolm Tucker, stop talking now.
“Even at England Senior level, a player winning their first cap must sing a song infront of the team and then share a drink with every player in the matchday squad. The drink is decided by each player individually.”
Where have you got that information from?! I’m not convinced. And even if it is true:
a) It’s still not typical of the majority of rugby clubs around the UK, and
b) It’s very far removed from making first years drink blended dog food.
Excuse me – I think you mean typing, not talking.
Malcolm Tucker please read this piece by James Haskell:
http://www.sportpost.com/jameshaskell/Rugby+Initiations
England:
“The only other England ritual is that after your first cap you must have a drink with every member of the team, who is allowed to select your style of drink.
This is when you find out who are the nice guys and who plays for Leicester! Everything seems to start very well and you get lulled following a few easy beers. This can’t be bad as they say! Then of course the stitch-up merchants hove into view and it all starts – rum and cokes, gin, whisky. Then there are those who order a shot of vodka for you and a shot of water for themselves…
Many players haven’t made it to the end of the dinner or been seen the next day! One player I know didn’t make it off the bus from the dinner back to the hotel and was in such a state had to be left where he crashed until the next day.”
Wasps:
“At Wasps I was 17 and still at school when I first got involved with the first team on a training camp to Poland. Needless to say on the evening before our day off I found myself in trouble being questioned about my drinking ability and experiences. My first memory of “The Evening” was having to drink a pint of local polish beer with every member of the squad interspersed by having to stand on the bar and sing a song of their choice. The last memory was having to be carried back to the hotel by Shaun Edwards and Mark Bitcom, our conditioner at the time.”
Just a little input on this trivial debate.
Richard Hill was at Brunel Uni. and refused flat-out to partake in their initiation ceremony. He didn’t drink and subsequently never represented Brunel 1st XV at Rugby, not through his own choice might I add. Nevertheless, it didn’t stop him going on to become one of England’s best back-rows in the last 25 years.
Regarding initiation as a concept, it’s a decent way of making people feel apart of something be it a sports team, club or any group of people representing a common-cause. Are people opposed to ‘initiation’ opposed to the concept of drinking on them or the idea of initiation itself- the ‘them’ and ‘us’ idea?
As far as the drinking goes, even if you’re unsuccessful then you still feel apart of something because you’ve given it a damn good go and it will sure be a story at the next training session. If you don’t drink, then so be it. It’s a good part of growing up- standing up to people and saying, ‘sorry, I don’t drink’ but I’m still going to come out and have a night and still turn up at training and work on getting into the best team according to their ability. Didn’t the previous 1st XV Rugby captain, Mike Callis, not drink to any great degree?
One thing I will garantee: no sports team at York worth their salt will reject someone for not doing their initiation and discriminate against them- there isn’t enough talent in depth to do that! If they do, then question your own desire to join such a club. Ok, they don’t drink and you might not get on with them socially, but if they’re good enough, they will sure as hell get picked.
And Malcom Tucker, lighten up.
I’d love you to come on a Derwent Rugby social… You’d get destroyed!
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I say all initiations should involve the taking of a number of drugs – maybe starting off with smoking a bit of weed, moving on to some M-cat to be topical, then ecstasy, crack and maybe rounding off with a shot of heroin. Good night. Great chat.
“I’d love you to come on a Derwent Rugby social… You’d get destroyed”…
How, utterly, utterly, pathetic.
However ARP, the points you make prior to that are interesting. And I agree that no team worth their salt would reject someone that refused to take part in an initiation…
But that doesn’t mean that people should be put in that awkward situation in the first place.
@ The Real Dan Crehan
I didn’t read your first comment, but am shocked if it’s any worse than your most recent.
I feel it is a very sad state of affairs if we require an initiation in order to make different year groups mix with each other at university level. Must be a problem of the Derwent Rugby Team, sure no others have similar problems.
Also find it funny that Derwent came second in the rugby, the only good thing about you was your captain!
Hold up hold up….men play hockey?!
Dear A Player,
If you read my comment I did not say an initiation was required, but making a big deal of new players on socials helps the team to gel as a whole. If you want to kick up a fuss about that then you clearly need to go and get better things to do, I for one don’t care for the opinion of someone who is affraid to leave their own name and likes to cast their judgement on matters that have nothing to do with them and they clearly know nothing about.
No Daniel, but your bigoted and pompous arguments are the sort of thing I expect to hear from a college rugby player. I find it funny that you accuse me of “kicking up a fuss” when I replied to the comments you left in the first place. As for leaving my name, I don’t really think it makes a difference leaving my name when noone knows who you are anyway. Also, enjoy having this article come up every time potential employers type your name into google. Also, with regards to being “nothing to do” with the argument, I don’t see how a college rugby player has anything more to do with UNIVERSITY level sports than myself.
@ Another Player
The earlier comment was not posted by Dan Crehan and has been removed.
Thanks. I was referring to the second comment, meant to put comment, not comments.
Wow this is an amazing example of people getting themselves worked up on the internet over something that doesn’t concern them.
Well A Player, i don’t see how making a big deal over freshers and getting them involved is ‘pompous or bigoted’ (you should probably go look those words up). Unlike you I don’t mind using my name because I’m not saying anything ridiculous.
Anyway I hope your random angry tirades on the internet give you a sense of meaning and purpose.
Go back to the library and do your degrees.
Jason Rose, you never play sport, never have done, so wouldn’t understand the bond of friendship created by those who get teeth knocked out for each other.
@ARP
Unfortunately it seems Jason is not the only person using the “~” name in this thread, so I’m pretty sure that comment wasn’t by Jason…
I was going to comment to say that the previous “~” wasn’t me but since nobody had said anything about it I felt it wasn’t necessary!
Though on that point, I think that the bond of friendship between people losing teeth together would probably be pretty tight already, and would benefit from socials and initiations – but I don’t see how doing things deliberately aimed at causing physical harm is going to do anything more than other initiations or socials. If people who opt-out of initiations are still as much a part of the team as anyone else then the entire point of doing them is undermined, surely?
By the way, I thought I’d just say that the previous “~” wasn’t me too – but nobody seems to take much notice of him either.
ARP I actually I understand that friendship exists, but that doesn’t mean that you should betray the trust of that friendship under the fallacy of ‘camaraderie’ by making people do things that they’re probably not very comfortable with.
By all means get battered together on a night out.
But don’t put people under the stress of forcing them to decide whether they’ll be a part of “that bond of friendship” by making them eat the things they’re made to eat, and drink the things they’re made to drink.
laura pepper one of the organisers is on the york sport committee, will she be punished for this doesn’t really set a good example.
The stuff about misbehaviour at the port-taped-to-hand
session was NOT made up. Sorry if that’s inconvenient.
@ what about york sport:
Im pretty sure emily scott is a member of the hockey club? What kind of punishment…..more initiations?
i was thinking about laura pepper being removed from the york sport committee she clearly doesn’t deserve a position of responsibility.
I think targetting Laura personally is bang out of order. We’re talking about a problem that’s ingrained in the Club. It’s not as if she personally created this issue.
I think there are far too many issues in York Sport, and I hope the incoming York Sport Officer makes more of an effort to truly address them than his predecessors. I think for a start, claiming hotel money from YUSU for a piss up with other sabbs in Yorkshire is something that really, really needs to stop…
The Hockey club is one of the friendliest on campus and whatever anti-banter-labour-voting twat who reported them should probably just shut up and get an operation to repair the hefty chip on their shoulder.
And for the record, nobody is forced to do anything. If you choose to do anything in life, you deal with the consequences yourself, not bring a whole club down with you, especially when you were not forced!
“Laura Pepper doesn’t set a good example” ehhh no. What adult needs an ‘example’ to be set? Why are you targeting her? Next time you do ANYTHING, including victimising an individual (like you just did with Pepper) consider that you are not setting a good example. We are students, and can hopefully think for ourselves, this thread is setting a bad example about banter, and free thinking. You are implying that the whole club couldn’t mutter the words ‘No.’ Like they are stepford hockey players or something? Go enjoy The Guardian. Knob.
“anti-banter-labour-voting”
a tad presumptuous or am I missing something?