Froshing takes on different names in different parts of the country but it often all entails the same horrible humiliation.

I remember being really thankful for not living in the dorms and not having to endure the beer guzzling, pouring, degrading phrases and general tarring and feathering of first year students. I remember my Mom talking of the spreading of plastic sheets in the hall for the rites of passage that would take place.

This is their welcome into the world of college life and all the responsibilities that go with it... wait a minute, I said “responsibilities?” The seniors who should be setting an example of fine acedemic ritual set about to degrade those new to the system.

Perhaps times have changed on the campus of the ole Alma Mater (I certainly hope so) but I suspect they haven’t.*

Now I work in a college myself as an instructor and had forgotten about the froshing until this year when I overheard some of the activities being planned for the rookies.

It seems that the custom in Japan, or certainly at my school, is nothing like what my fellow MUNmates went through .

I overheard the words “kangeikai (歓迎会) whichtranslates as "a welcome party". Each individual department arranges a welcome party for the new students. They have to endure nothing more than silly drunken foolishness. They are not signalled out as the rookies and any foolishness that must be tolerated must be tolerated by all. The worst they may possibly get (and this is very rare) is that a drunk senior or not, may show a moon (which could actually be a treat for some of the females. Japanese "bottoms" tend to be hairless and a lot less offensive).

Another "kangeikai" activity at my school is a sporting event, usually one that all can play and the teams are mixed up with all ages and departments participating. This year we had a volleyball tournament.

Seems most of the humiliation is endured by the instructors who come hobbling into classes the next day rubbing sore joints and stiff muscles and lamenting our "fading youth".

“-- the practice of initiating new students ("frosh") with often demeaning rites and activities -- has been officially banned at Paton College in St. John's and has been replaced with a student orientation developed by the university's student housing division. Individuals will be fined $50 for participating in froshing, and a residence house can be fined up to $1,000.”

the MUN Gazette

http://www.mun.ca/univrel/gazette/1995-96/Jul.25/ss09-hou.html

Accessed April 16, 2003