University freshers neck beer from hockey kneepads in banned initiation ceremony

A probe has been launched after a video of university hockey players seemingly taking part in a banned initiation ceremony appeared online.

The footage, which purportedly shows 'freshers' drinking beer out of knee pads as older students pour the cans, was posted on the Newcastle University Ladies Hockey Club's Instagram story earlier this week.

With the captions 'welcome to the team freshies' and 'rate the freshers downing their tinny', it also appears to show older students pouring cans of booze into the knee pads and encouraging younger players to drink.

Initiation ceremonies are banned at the university, Chronicle Live reports.

The investigation by Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) will also look at whether the footage breached local Covid-19 restrictions.

Video shared on Instagram appears to show students drinking from hockey kneepads (chronicle live WS)

It is understood that clubs and societies are currently banned from holding social events.

Benthe Tanghe, NUSU, Athletics Union Sabbatical Officer, said: “We are aware of a video posted on social media that appears to show inappropriate behaviour relating to members of the Newcastle University Ladies Hockey Club and an investigation is under way.

“The safety of our students is of the utmost importance to us, and we will not tolerate any behaviour which puts our students at risk.

"The investigation will assess if the students breached our policies and procedures regarding initiations, dangerous behaviours, coercive behaviours and Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines.

An investigation into the incident has been launched (chronicle live WS)

Initiation events have been banned by the university after a student died in 2016 (chronicle live WS)

"While this investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further.”

A Newcastle University spokesperson said: "We are aware of the video and an investigation has been launched by Newcastle University’s Students’ Union and reported to us through the Student Disciplinary Process.

"While the investigation is ongoing we cannot comment further on this incident.

“We take our responsibility for the health, safety and wellbeing of our students, staff and local community extremely seriously.

“Our Student Charter, which is signed by all students, makes it very clear that initiations or similar dangerous behaviour is banned and reinforces the importance of sensible drinking.

"It has also been updated this year to take account of new and additional responsibilities relating to Covid-19.”