Fainting and exhausted students as hazing again goes too far at Maastricht hotel school

Hazing at the Hotel Management School Maastricht has again gotten out of hand. At least two first-year students have reported to the doctor at Maastricht UMC+ with symptoms of exhaustion over the weekend, multiple students fainted, and one had an epileptic seizure, a source told De Limburger.

The incidents occurred during hazing by the students' association Amphityron, which lasted from Friday evening to Monday morning. About 100 first-year students participated. According to the newspaper, they had to stand outside in the freezing cold for hours “as still as a statue.” Anyone who moved was snapped at. The source reported seven first-years fainting, one having a seizure, and others showing symptoms of hypothermia.

The students had to sleep in sleeping bags on the floor and were woken up every two to three hours by “noise on pots and pans,” a witness told the newspaper. They also said that the first-years got very little to eat and drink.

A spokesperson for the hotel school told De Limburger that the management received “no signals that confirm the abuses” but have launched an investigation into what happened. “The well-being of students, both mentally and physically, must come first.” The school asked students who experienced undesirable behavior to talk to the confidential counselor at Zuyd Hogeschool, under which the hotel school falls.

This is not the first time that Amphityron hazing has gotten out of hand. In 2018, several parents complained to the school management about physical and verbal violence used against their children. The school investigated and suspended the student association’s funding.

Last week, Maastricht University suspended the introduction activities of all student associations following reports of inappropriate behavior.