Hazing program an outdated concept

Hazing program an outdated concept

From Media Indonesia

I read in Kompas (Jan. 11, 1996) about the death of a student after enduring initiation rites at the Bandung Institute of Technology. This was not the first time someone died at the hands of the university's student orientation program, called Ospek.

I am not blaming any single university for the harmful program because almost all universities have similar traditions of breaking in new students. The program is supposedly meant to discipline them and teach them loyalty while developing their mental and creative faculties.

However, I wonder if the physical results of the program outweigh the moral advantages. Traditions die hard but the system of initiation must be changed.

WINDY ANTON

Jakarta