Hong Kong universities have been plagued by a series of scandals relating to their orientation activities, with Lingnan University’s Student Union Editorial Board revealing strict guidelines set by the school for the upcoming academic year’s orientation events. These guidelines include prohibiting the use of terms like “Ocamp” or “orientation activities” in the event names, as well as mandating the appointment of at least one “anti-bullying and anti-harassment ambassador” to monitor activities and report any inappropriate behavior to the school authorities.
Last Thursday, Lingnan University held an orientation activity briefing session to convey a series of updated policy directives to various student clubs and provide recommendations on activity arrangements. The Student Union Editorial Board disclosed that the university has established several regulations, such as requiring orientation activities organized by student clubs to commence on or after August 31. This measure ensures that new students participate in activities only after reporting to the school, ensuring that the initial campus information they receive comes from official school sources.
In addition, organizers must obtain written consent from the parents or guardians of underage students before allowing them to participate in off-campus activities. Students under the age of 18 are prohibited from serving as the president or treasurer of any on-campus clubs or organizations.
Lingnan University has also strictly prohibited the use of terms like “Orientation Camp” and “Orientation Activities” in the activity names. All activities must be submitted with detailed plans for approval by the responsible authorities before being held and promoted on campus or under the university’s name; otherwise, they will be prohibited.
Furthermore, all responsible persons of organizing units, including members of the executive council, must attend the “Orientation Training Camp” organized by the Student Affairs Office. Indecent games or activities are strictly prohibited during orientation activities, and at least one “anti-bullying and anti-harassment ambassador” must be assigned to monitor the situation. If any inappropriate behavior is detected, the ambassador is responsible for immediately stopping it and reporting it to the Student Affairs Office. Additionally, to protect the image of the school and students’ personal reputations, students are advised not to publicly share any intimate photos on social media.
Lingnan University will provide basic insurance coverage for all orientation activities. In the event of accidents or injuries during activities, as long as the activities have been registered and approved by the Student Affairs Office, affected students can receive up to HK$5,000 in medical expenses compensation. The university emphasizes that if any violations or illegal activities are detected during activities, the event will be immediately terminated, resulting in participants losing eligibility for insurance compensation.
In response to media inquiries, Lingnan University expressed a strong commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants in the upcoming orientation activities. The university hopes that student organizations organizing this year’s welcome activities for new students will do so in a more rigorous manner, safeguarding the rights and welfare of all participants. Accordingly, the guidelines and recommendations for related activities have been optimized based on the latest campus and societal developments.