With disregard for the continuing grief, distress and sensitivity surrounding the hushed up university prank that saw six students swept away and drowned at Meco beach in December 2013, a fresher at the University of the Algarve has ended up in hospital being buried up to her neck on Faro beach and force-fed alcohol, according to early reports.
The Rector of the University of Algarve today announced the opening of an investigation into an incident ‘related to academic pranks’ which required the student to be admitted to Faro hospital.
The 'prank gone wrong' happened on Wednesday night at Praia de Faro and was reported to the Rector of the university by the parents of a 19-year-old first year student who naturally were less than impressed at the state of their daughter after a night out which put her wellbeing at risk.
The prank involves first year students 'digging their own graves,' being buried up their neck in sand, being fed alcohol and then going for a swim. Harmless fun one could say but swimming and drink do not mix and the university has a duty of care over these young adults, however hard it may be to enforce.
The Rector, António Branco, decided to find out exactly what had gone on and if necessary will punish anyone who has broken the university’s strict rules on the behaviour of and with first year students.
"As a result of something that happened on the beach, a student needed medical care and this constitutes sufficient grounds to open an inquiry that may have disciplinary consequences," said Branco, who added that thankfully the medical condition of the student is not severe.
Faro hospital staff said that a female was received at 21:55 on Wednesday, and that she had stayed in overnight for observation and should be released some time on Thursday.
The prank is alleged to have involved burying the student in the sand and pouring alcohol down her throat.
The university Rector said that with regard for first year pranks, this is the first time he has had a real situation rather than just hearsay so he will be able to take action if need be.
The rules are clear enough as an internal university memo dated September 4th stipulates a zero tolerance of any pranks played on new students on or off campus which could violate the ‘physical rights, moral integrity, liberty or security of any student.’
Comments
What so bedevilled the Meco investigation was the Silence - the 'Omerta' of the students. Not offering anything to the Police. Journalists clearly witnessing strange hand or body movements signalling students not to talk to them or the Police.
As an example of awareness of the necessity to help the forces of law and order in their legitimate investigations - not an ideal sign of things to come amongst the intellectual elite.
A clear example today of what Wellington and his Generals consistently called 'low moral fibre in the Portuguese' during their campaign to get the French out of Portugal. With the few Portuguese involved spending more energy attacking disarmed French prisoners or violating the dead French than attacking the armed ones.
Never mentioned in the latest Portuguese re-writings of their history which nowadays describe Wellington's Army - the only effective opposition to Napoleon at the time - as largely onlookers with disciplinary issues.