<p>Thai universities have just started their delayed academic year, but bang on cue, the articles pour in about what happens to new students at institutes of higher education.</p> <p>In the English reports, the preferred term is normally ‘hazing’, but take a moment to look at the Thai term – ‘<em>rab nong</em>’ – which carries none of the connotations of a potentially dangerous or embarrassing rite of passage.</p>