By Dylan Freeman-Grist
A warning has been issued to all students in residence at Ryerson that participating in Neknominations will not be tolerated.
Neknominations involves someone engaging in heavy drinking, including repeated shots of liquor, chugging multiple beverages, or possibly even illicit drug use on camera, posting it online and then nominating two or three friends to do the same within a 24-hour period.
An email circulated on Feb. 6 from Brandon Smith, acting residence life and education coordinator with Ryerson’s Student Housing Services, outlining the lack of tolerance to the popular online drinking fad.
“This is a reminder that the Ryerson Residence Community Standards outlines that unsafe and excessive drinking practices, drinking in common/unlicensed spaces (ie: common rooms, stair wells, etc.) and destructive pranks such as this are serious offences. Anyone found involved with or violating these standards will be met with for investigation and fair process.” Smith’s email said.
“There have been reported deaths on an international level; this is dangerous and unsafe drinking and I encourage you to take care of yourselves and your friends who are considering participating in this ‘challenge’ by encouraging them not to. If you choose to drink, it is important to do this responsibly.”
Despite the warning and controversy surrounding Neknominations, many students in residence have opted to participate. Filming their take in their rooms, posting it online and then removing it soon afterwards.
“I think it’s just a social drinking game, it’s more in the spirit of fun,” said one student at Pitman Hall who participated in Neknominations and asked to remain anonymous. “Really it’s just connecting people that you know from lots of different areas. Like if you pass it on to another university to your buddy, and they keep on passing it along and it turns into a big story.”
The majority of posts go on Facebook. With friends tagging both their nominator and nominee to the chain going.
“I mean personally I did it because it was fun and I made sure not to do anything stupid,” said another student living in Pittman who chose to remain anonymous.
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