The Athletic Union Disciplinary Committee met on Wednesday 11 November following the publication of a video showing initiation-style activities.
Benthe Tanghe, Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) Athletic Union Sabbatical Officer commented: “The AU Disciplinary Committee takes the responsibility of student behaviour extremely seriously and concluded that a breach of the NUSU code of conduct had taken place."
On 28 October, The Courier reported on a video posted by the gossip Instagram page of the NULHC. The video showed members of the club participating in an ‘initiation-style’ ritual in which members of the team made freshers drink alcohol poured through shinpads.
The video shows the group breaching COVID-19 safety guidelines by not social distancing and by meeting in a group of more than six people.
Tanghe continued: “As a result, all Ladies Hockey Club team members have been suspended from all club activities for a period of four weeks which will come into effect when the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Key officials and committee members within the Hockey Club are also required to complete a training and education programme."
‘Initiations’ are banned at Newcastle University after the inquiry into the death of student Ed Farmer in 2016. Since then, his family have been pushing for zero-tolerance policy that would result in the expelling of any student engaging in ‘initiation-styled’ practices.
The penalties for breaching COVID-19 guidelines can go from £1000 to £10 000.
Featured Image: fiveguysnulhc on Instagram and Newcastle University Ladies Hockey Club (NULHC) on Facebook