Stirling University’s Sports Union has joined the Full Time On Initiations campaign.
The movement aims to discourage initiations in an effort to make university sports societies more inclusive towards new members.
Initiations are “rites of passage” that allow new members onto the team. They often include excessive amounts of alcohol.
Across the UK initiations have resulted in death and harm, with many universities changing their stances as a result.
A Stirling Sports Union spokesperson commented:
“The Sports Union can confirm that we are taking a stronger stance on initiations through a social media campaign that is being adopted by the majority of Scottish Institutions.
“The campaign, Full Time On Initiations, encourages all Sports Union Clubs to share the same message that initiations are not tolerated as a tradition, because all students should feel that they are welcome to join whichever sport they like, without feeling pressured to take part in behaviours that make them feel uncomfortable, unwelcomed or unsafe.
“Furthermore, during our Committee Inductions Training Day at the start of September, we were fortunate enough to have the CHANGES workshop delivered again by a member of staff from Robert Gordon University Sports Union.
“The workshop was well attended by our club’s Captains, Social Secretaries and Welfare Officers and is aimed at tackling initiations by highlighting to committee members the negative impacts it can have on new members.
“We hope that our Sports Clubs support the campaign, therefore allowing all students at Stirling to feel part of our sporting community, whether that be at an elite, competitive or recreational level.”
Stirling’s sports clubs have joined the campaign, alongside other Scottish universities.
James Falls, the president of Stirling University’s rugby club said: “Full Time on Initiations is a campaign Men’s Rugby is proud to back.
“We believe that in the current day and moving forward the club should be a welcoming and safe space for all current members and new members.
“Sport should be fun while at university and no one should feel intimidated, embarrassed, or humiliated while playing the sport they enjoy.
“We look forward to having our welfare officer Rob Mathews contribute to the campaign and are excited to see what the club and the committee can produce moving forward.”
Netball President Honor McMillan said: “As such a diverse club with many members travelling from all around, Stirling University Netball Club is meant to be a place away from home where you feel welcomed and safe.
“Initiations are poor attempts at welcoming new members with the aim to embarrass rather than include.
“It is because of this that myself and the Netball Club support the Full Time On Initiations Campaign.”
Featured Image Credit: University of Stirling Sport Union
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