Groningen students made to sign contract not to snitch on hazing

Groningen student association Vindicat makes all prospective members sign a contract in which they promise not to say anything about hazing, according to NOS who has the contract in hand. If students fail to do so, they face a fine of 25 thousand euros. The contract also states that Vindicat is not liable for any damages. Vindicat made headlines twice over the past two weeks. A prospective member was recently taken to hospital after he sustained a cerebral edema during hazing. And last week a "bang list", containing photos, telephone numbers, names and sexiness ratings of 22 female members, circulated on the internet. The contract states that prospective members "will not disclose his/her experiences concerning introduction time" in any way. Violation means an "immediately payable fine" of 25 thousand euros. Vindicat rector Stijn Derksen defended the contract to the broadcaster. According to him, it does not mean that prospective members can't talk to the press. "I understand that you read it that way, but I myself never felt restricted by it." he said. The contract is mainly to prevent undercover reporters taking part and writing about hazing. He also added that the recently injured student isn't refusing to talk to the press because of the contract. "In conversation with the boy and his parents we indicated that they should feel free to talk to the press if they wish. They themselves decided to stay out of the media." NOS talked to other student associations to find out whether they have prospective members sign similar contracts. Many do, but their contracts do not go so far as Vindicat's, the broadcaster concluded. For example, the Amsterdam Student Corps and Leiden's Minerva don't allow their prospective members to talk to the press without permission from the board. But they don't impose fines. The Delft Student Corps only impose fines on journalists who participate undercover, not members who talk to journalists. The Wageningen student association Ceres doesn't have anything about talking to the press in its contract.