Action over 'Nazi' initiations

By Siobhan Courtney
BBC News Interactive reporter

The student initiation ceremony was caught on camera last year

Several students from the University of Gloucestershire have been suspended after an investigation into banned 'Nazi-style' initiation ceremonies.

The university launched the inquiry after a BBC investigation found footage of students ordered to drink alcohol by a leader in a Nazi-style uniform.

Several students then vomited before being paraded through the streets.

The university has not named the students, nor confirmed how many have been suspended.

During a night out during freshers' week in Cheltenham in October, students told the BBC that during the ceremonies "you have to do everything you are told".

Ordered to obey

Student Nick Levy recalled his initiation experience and said: "We had to put matches in private inappropriate areas and set them on fire whilst drinking more beer".

In a statement University of Gloucestershire spokesman Paul Drake said: "The university has concluded its investigation into initiation ceremonies.

"A number of students have been subject to university disciplinary procedures and the matter is now closed.

Of course they are still going on, they're an awful experience and many get out of control Un-named student

"The university continues to ban such activities and any students participating in the future will be subject to disciplinary procedures".

However, there was further embarrassment for the university after the initial BBC investigation.

It emerged that students were involved in a second booze-fuelled initiation ceremony in December.

A student vomited over himself and on the floor of a bus after a rugby club initiation ceremony. Passengers were forced to leave the bus in Churchdown while the driver cleaned up the mess.

Mr Drake told the BBC that "disciplinary action" was taken after the incident, but confirmed that no students were expelled.

A student who did not want to be named said: "Of course they are still going on, they're an awful experience and many get out of control, the thing is they are just now a lot more underground than before."