Freshies: To rag or not to rag?

These few days, with the embarrassing exposures regarding freshies being ragged in Universiti Malaya (UM), led me to recall the days when I was a senior-facilitator myself, last year.

After undergoing an intensive training for one week, practically isolated from the outside world, we were more than determined to be of assistance to the newcomers in the week that ensued.

On my part, I volunteered to be a senior-facilitator (official name Pembimbing Pelajar Minggu Suaikenal -- PPMS or Orientation Week Student Leader) as a show of appreciation to the university's many dedicated lecturers who wowed me with their knowledge, enthusiasm and guidance. So this was my way of giving back to the campus.

Another reason was I could still recall clearly when I, myself, was a freshie. The two memories that spring to mind are Kak Nurrul Anisah who remembered my name even after the orientation week was long over, and who also explained serba-sedikit (a little) about campus and Physics life.

Besides that, another distinct recollection was when we were supposed to walk to the hall for a briefing and I waited for my coursemate, who took his own sweet time. By the time we headed off, we found that we were among the last. A senior, on his motorcycle upon seeing us, shouted brashly in our faces, "Lewat! Lewat! Lewat!" (Late! Late! Late!) then sped off just as quickly to God-knows-where.

I vowed never to emulate this type of 'senior-ship'. All in all, I held a strong resolve to become a senior I myself would love, and more.

The Orientation Week arrived. Speaking to the freshies and some of their parents gave me great joy. It felt good to finally be able to be of service to the university. It felt good to be part of a frontline team representing the image of the University. It felt good to make a difference.

I can proudly say that during our leadership, there were no instances of ragging, and I challenge any freshie, current or past, to negate this statement. Although there were one or two colleagues who gleefully imposed long speeches on the freshies until late into the night; and this I was highly against and found extremely arrogant -- I sat with the freshies, not in front of them, to show my displeasure.

(An interesting observation is that freshies of the Malay descent were most receptive to my friendship, and many of our relationships are strengthened to this day. On the other hand, most juniors of my own race displayed an unwarranted sense of ego by shunning my sincere assistance.)

However, you never see us in the news. You seldom see us mentioned in blogs. People don't write Letters to the Editor about the senior-facilitators of USM. For the very reason that 'nothing' happened.

Why is it when ragging occurs, news and a lot of hoo-ha and brouhaha crop up; but when senior-facilitators choose to treat their juniors with respect, friendship and approachability, it becomes a non-issue?

Hypothetically speaking, shouldn't we have ragged them instead?