Students banned from wearing drag

[Shana A]

Students banned from wearing drag

http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.english/news/121126_HUB_drag

Mon 26/11/2012 - 12:10 The Dutch-medium Brussels Institute of Higher Education University HUB has banned its students from wearing drag as part of student fraternity initiation rituals. The ban comes after a male student was robbed and raped by a group of youths in Brussels last month.

As in the United States, student fraternities in Belgium have a long tradition of initiation rituals for new members, some of which include male students wearing drag.

Last month, a student that was on his way to an initiation evening dressed as a woman was set upon by a group of youths. They took him to a car park before robbing him of his mobile and gang raping him.

[...]

"I feel that HUB is sending out completely the wrong signal. By reacting in this way they are at least implying that the rape was the victim's fault. "He should have known that this is provocative to certain people", What? And so this justifies someone being attacked of rape? What about transgender men and women then? Should they also "adapt""?

"As a society we should make it clear to the victims that they have our support and say to the perpetrators that their behaviour is unacceptable and that they will be severely punished."

[suzifrommd]

A lot of places ban all types of hazing rituals, which I've always thought of as a more sensible law than chasing each one down separately.

[tekla]

A lot of places ban all types of hazing rituals

Not that it stopped it, it just sent a lot of it underground, which makes it even more of a bonding deal now.  (Hazing, not just disgusting and inhuman, but now Illegal too!).

I never liked it, never participated in it when I got up on the food chain (I did go through it a couple of times), won't allow it where I work - but still it keeps on going - so they ain't listening to me.

And, since this is a group you join (no one is forced) there is a degree of Mommy State about the whole deal.  If I want to do it, subject myself to that, isn't that my right as an idiot?

Obviously, when people's lives are being put at risk that seems almost too far, but a lot of it is just dumb.  And again, if I WANT to risk my life, why not?


(Although The State, which hates it so much in some places seems perfectly fine with it's continuance in the military for some elite stuff - like Seals, Airborne, Special Forces - but not near all, positions).