Government of Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry has questioned whether it is “time to ban initiations” at cégeps and universities after a group of biology students alleged that they were put through “degrading hazing” experiences at Université de Sherbrooke. Radio-Canada reported that biology students were doused in animal urine, encouraged to strip naked in public, and told to bathe in the lac des Nations. USherbrooke has opened an investigation into the reports. “This is completely unacceptable,” said USherbrooke vice rector and secretary general Jocelyne Faucher. “At no time does the university tolerate such actions, violence, intimidation.” Déry expressed her approval of the university’s response and expressed hope that the organizers of the hazing activities would be sanctioned.
