Frosh
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Frosh (also known as frosh week) is a tradition at colleges and universities for first year students that takes places over the course of the first week of classes, the first week prior to class, or both. Frosh is the common term applied to these events in North American colleges and universities. This event is also known as Orientation Week or O-Week in other countries such as Australia.
Terminology
In Sweden, it is known as nollning (from nolla, in this case meaning zeroth-year student, i. e. before the first university year starts). It's generally a large celebration or week long party. In the United States first year students are called freshman, and are usually referred collectively to as "the frosh". In Canada, the term freshman is not used as extensively. In Australia and the U.K. first year students are known as "Freshers" or "first years" and are the focus of Orientation Week known in the U.K. as Freshers' Week, in order to integrate them into the university lifestyle.Format
For first year students arriving at school, the week is their informal introduction / inauguration to the institution. The first year students are led by fellow students from upper years over the course of the week through various events ranging from campus tours, to games, to competitions, to field trips. Despite the age limit, heavy drinking and binge drinking, are quite common during the week.Pranks
In North America, pulling pranks during the week is expected and almost encouraged. Some examples would be dying a public fountain the school colours, covering a monument in toilet paper, or making prank phone calls to restaurants. During the week, such pranks can be numerous and not very pressing in nature. Many programs even go so far as to supply first year students with the means so long as they clean up after themselves as necessary. Because of this, local police in many cities (especially those with more than one school) are slightly more lenient during the week, looking the other way for minor infractions and misdemeanors.Final night
The majority of programs require their organizers to sign waivers stating they will not be under the influence of any substances over the course of the week as they are responsible for the wellbeing of the frosh. Most programs have one final party or kegger on the final night to finish of the week off celebrating, but this also serves double for the organizers. Having gone the week watching (and sometimes encouraging) the first year students to let loose and drink, many organizers wait until midnight of the final day, and hastily start drinking.In Australian universities, such as University of New South Wales and University of Sydney, the final night is usually celebrated with a large-scale event such as a famous band playing at an entertainment venue on campus. This is generally followed by continued partying and drinking, especially among students living in residential colleges.
Variation
The direction in which the events of the week are aimed varies greatly from one school to the next, and some times even within a school.Duration
The week can be any length of time over the course of the allotted week. For one contrast, the city of Ottawa, Canada has two universities within its urban centre, one with a designated time of 2 days, and the other of 7 days. The length of the week is often affected by each university's tradition as well as financial and physical constaints on the duration of it.Intensity
Although it has been officially banned at many schools, hazing is not uncommon during the week. This can be anywhere from the organizers treating the first years students in a playfully discouraging manner to forcing them to endure rigorous trials.Some schools view their week as an initiation or rite of passage while others view it as a time to build school spirit and pride.
Attitude
The attitude of the events also depends on the school. In towns with more than one university, there will typically be a school rivalry that's reflected in the events throughout the week. In schools with more than one program (usually split by faculty), there can even be some rivalry or competition between the different groups. For example, the University of Waterloo's Math and Engineering faculty have an intense rivalry that is subject to deception and theivery.Around the world
Sweden
Most Swedish universities have some kind of "nollning". This is most extensive at the technical faculties and at the student nation communities of Uppsala and Lund. Since student union membership is mandatory in Sweden, the nollning is usually centrally organized from the student union.At the old universities, these traditions have often turned civilized after a dark history of hazing. Today, many student unions have strict rules against inappropriate drunkenness, sexual harassment and other problems which might have occurred in the old days.
At the technical faculties, some of the mentors play "evil" roles in a theatrical manner. These characters may be required to grow beards during the summer (if their testosterone level allows them), wear dark glasses and dress in some kind of uniform (for instance a student overall or white tie/black ball gown). The mentors usually request the newcomers to perform some kind of pre-planned pranks in a downtown area. Most senior students who are mentors during the nollning wear their student overalls or the b-frack (a worn tailcoat). This kind of well-organized nollning has developed at KTH and Chalmers and spread to the rest of the country.
See also Swedish student culture.
Gymnasium schools
Humiliating hazing traditions exist at some Swedish gymnasium schools. Their format (including the term "nollning") is inspired by the universities, but distorted. Most school boards work to abolish these bad traditions.Finland
Finland has imported many academic traditions from Sweden, including some of the nollning traditions. According to Finnish culture, drinking is heavier, and sauna-bathing is frequent.Drinking and the legal age
In Canada, the legal drinking age is eighteen in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, and 19 in all other provinces. With high school going until grade 12 in most parts of Canada, the majority of students graduate being either 17 or 18. A select few (probably around 20%) are of legal age in their area and probably purchase alcohol for minors (possibly on commission). In Quebec most students are legal because the legal age is 18 and students graduate CEGEP at 19.In the United States, the legal drinking age is unanimously 21, but with a similar student age demographic. One would question where and how the students acquire their drinking stock. The most likely answer is from senior year students running the frosh. Students in northern border states (most notoriously, Wisconsin) drive up to Canada to secure beer and smuggle it back across the border undeclared. Canadian beer is also of slightly higher alcohol content than American beer, which provides greater incentive.
In Australia, the legal drinking age is 18. A lot of university students are 18 by the time they start university however, some students turn 18 later on in the year. Since first year students cannot legally participate in activities involving drinking or attend events where alcohol is served, many events are organized so they can involve everyone, usually through separate alcohol or non-alcohol areas. Alternatively, underage students can obtain alcohol illegally or obtain fake ID cards to particpate in activities involving alcohol.
In Sweden, the legal drinking age is 18 in certified restaurants and pubs, but 20 for buying alcohol from Systembolaget. Since Swedish students graduate from the gymnasium school the same year as they turn 19, many first year students can drink at pubs, but not privately purchased alcohol. As most student union have a certified restaurant, they can serve alcohol legally. The student unions' alcohol policies vary greatly throughout the country. Since many events occur in downtown areas, some student unions have strict rules against drinking or showing up drunk at such events. Many universities offer a lecture on responsible drinking during the introduction weeks.
Some students will take a year or two off between high school graduation and enrollment in post-secondary education, putting them well over the age limit, and in a position to both drink and purchase alcohol. They also play a factor in first year students drinking during the week.
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