Disturbing Hazing Rituals of Freshman Students Revealed in Report on Sydney Uni's Colleges

Trigger Warning: This article discusses sexual assault and suicide.

A 203-page report was released today by End Rape on Campus and has revealed the extent of alleged hazing practices against first-year students at the University of Sydney's colleges.

The report, entitled The Red Zone, is named after the first few weeks of a student's time at university when they are most likely to be sexually assaulted. It's uncovered some disturbing rituals that are allegedly perpetrated against first-year students staying in the on-campus colleges during their first few weeks.

The report detailed alleged incidents in which students defecated in the accommodation's halls and others where some residents masturbated into female residents' shampoo bottles (which the college denies receiving complaints about).

Some first-years explained that they were forced into dark, crowded rooms with dead fish being thrown at them.

But the alleged misconduct wasn't just limited to the physical world. The report outlined that multiple closed Facebook groups had been created for college residents to post embarrassing photos of other residents, and another for male residents to pose with the underwear of women they had slept with.

Professor Catharine Lumby wrote in the report's foreword that the incidents were sickening to read.

"To be frank, I had to put the document to one side at times to process the full extent of abuse and assault that permeates our college and residential halls," Professor Lumby wrote. 

"It gives a graphic and detailed account of bullying, harassment and assault in these residences. It makes for sickening reading."

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One of the authors of the report, Nina Funnell, told the ABC she believes these incidents have serious, sometimes fatal consequences.

"While there have been dozens of attempts over the years to stop the abuse over this period, sexual assault and hazing activities have continued," Funnell explained.

"In recent years, students and parents have alleged that hazing has contributed to self-harm and actual suicide."

In 2016, Stuart Kelly, the younger brother of Thomas Kelly (who was tragically killed in a one-hit punch a few years earlier), took his own life, after spending just one night at one of University of Sydney's St. Paul's College a year earlier.

Stuart's father, Ralph Kelly, told the ABC that Stuart's one night in the college accommodation had traumatised him so much, he refused to return. St. Paul's told the ABC that their investigations into Stuart's short time at the college revealed nothing, and that these assertions were unsubstantiated. 

"When we got [to Royal Prince Alfred; a nearby hospital] he had his head in his hands, sitting in the gutter and got into the car and just sobbed uncontrollably. So we just took him home," Kelly said.

The release of the report comes just months after the Human Rights Commission released their findings from a nationwide survey. It found more than 50 per cent of university students had faced sexual harassment, and that "women were three times as likely to be sexually assaulted in a university setting during 2015 and 2016."

Speaking to Student Edge previously, Queensland University of Technology's Professor Paula McDonald explained that this HRC survey was just the beginning of a long process to change the culture at universities.

"What happens in university is integrally and inextricably connected to the broader attitudes towards women that are prevalent in Australia today," she explained.

"We still have a long way to go to get to a society where women are treated as equal beings and equal citizens."

Have you experienced sexual assault or sexual violence? Seeking to support someone who has? Call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. 

If you or anyone you know needs help, support is available now. Call Lifeline on 131 114 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.

Photo: iStock.com/superjoseph