Sacred ceremony to induct students

Deputy Education Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat participated in the afternoon ritual, led by National Artist Arvuth Ngernchuklin, and presided over the student orientation.

He said the Sotus (seniority, order, tradition, unity and spirit) system was a good form of welcoming activity, although tougher than other activities, but senior students should carefully implement the system for its good aspects.

He said outsiders could not tarnish the school's image, only insiders.

"Uthen Thawai is an outstanding institution established for 76 years now and has produced successful alumni. Thus students should unite in its development and those who did wrong should accept responsibility and be ready to solve the issue, not help each other to cover things up, or this could become a flaw," he said.

The students who joined the ancient ceremony would receive good things and they felt impressed, he said.

If Uthen Thawai and its reported rival Pathumwan Institute of Technology could host the rite together, it would be a great thing that he would like to see because both schools learned about craftsmanship and worshiped Phra Vishnu, the Hindu god of craftsmanship, he said.

Wichai Ponprasert, president of the Uthen Thawai Alumni Association, urged the students not to hold any more initiations because the ancient ceremony and student orientation yesterday were enough and already auspicious.

Acting deputy rector Seubpong Moungchoo said the probe into alleged hazing had completed summoning the senior students and found four to five of them whose action went beyond what was acceptable.

However, they should not be clearly identified as wrongdoers for punishment because the victims and their parents refused to identify them as the offenders.

"The school isn't protecting the students but wants to get rid of those who were a disgrace to the school.

"The disciplinary investigation of 13 Uthen Thawai administrators and teachers will also be carried out soon, after the 15day appeal period is over," he said.

The Pathumwan Institute of Technology will host a press conference today at 11am on its fourth round of entrance examinations and measures to tackle possible student protests against the results of the new round.