University bans mortar board throwing…

… but it’sOK, it’s not Kent Uni!

No doubt you’ve all heard the news that the University of East Anglia has BANNED its students from throwing their hats in the air at their graduation ceremony over health and safety fears! Apparently, in the past, students have been injured by falling hats and the University is eager to prevent this from happening again.

It comes as no surprise that the students are furious that the much-loved hat throwing tradition will not be taking place this year, with one student quoted as saying “Throwing your hat in the air is the pinnacle moment of your university life. When you’ve worked so hard and paid so much for the ceremony itself, and the fees, a lot of people look forward to that moment.”

According to the University, the risk of injury to its students “… is an unacceptable risk and we want to ensure no student’s graduation day is ruined by the potential for avoidable injury. This has been agreed by our academic dress suppliers who often receive back damaged mortarboards, and our photographers.”

Instead, students have been given the choice of paying an extra £8 to mime their hat-throwing photo, and then their hats will be Photoshopped in afterwards!

The University of Birmingham and Anglia Ruskin University, in Cambridge, have also both asked their students not to throw their hats in the air in celebration, again, due to health and safety fears.

So, what do you all think about this decision? Do you agree? Or do you think it’s health and safety gone mad? Will you be taking part in the tradition, or erring on the side of caution? Let us know your thoughts and we’ll share them on our Facebook and Twitter profiles.