Ryerson students criticized for ‘hazing’ event

Ryerson officials are speaking out after video posted online showed engineering students participating in what appeared to be a “hazing” event.

The video, which showed half-naked students crawling across icy cement while other students shout orders and shoot at them with water guns, was posted on social media and quickly drew the attention of school officials as well as city councillor Shelley Carroll.

 

In a statement released Saturday, Ryerson president Sheldon Levy called the actions of the students unacceptable.

“There is no excuse for the completely unacceptable activities that took place at the event, and anyone who contends it is ‘just fun’ or ‘builds community’ has no place at Ryerson,” said Levy.

“The university is categorical in affirming it does not condone student conduct that demeans individuals in any way, and I am making clear our shock and anger in the face of this departure from dignity.”

Rose Ghamari, president of the Ryerson Engineering Student Society (RESS) told CityNews stricter disciplines will be put in place to ensure instances like this do not happen again.

“I know there are more acceptable ways to do what we had intended, which was to be a spirit demonstration,” she explained. “RESS will be working with the university to make sure incidents like this don’t take place in the future. We understand that certain incidents that happened at the event were definitely unacceptable.”

Ghamari said all participation in the event, which has been held annually at the school for the last seven years, was voluntary and any student could opt out if wished.

Levy said university officials will meet with RESS on Monday to discuss the incident.

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