Beer brand may yank club funds after stunt
A national brewery may withdraw its sponsorship of a university society after a student was seriously injured in a stunt.
The 20-year-old engineering student and jumped off the roof of his two-storey Christchurch flat into an inflatable paddling pool on September 16.
A spectator filmed the plunge at the property on Ilam Rd. The video was to be played at the University of Canterbury Engineering Society (Ensoc) AGM last Tuesday.
Ensoc’s guidelines state a filmed stunt is a requirement for candidates hoping to join the committee.
The student remains in hospital with a fractured spine.
Ensoc has several gold sponsors, including Tui and the New Zealand Defence Force. A DB Brewery spokesman said the company was ‘‘absolutely devastated’’ to hear about the ‘‘tragic incident’’.
‘‘In our view encouraging behaviour and stunts, such as the incident that took place is totally unacceptable. As a company we would never knowingly support any event, outlet or individual involved in this type of activity.
‘‘It is against both our company and brand rules and – most importantly – against our company values. As a result, we will be speaking to Ensoc this week, and reviewing our sponsorship relationship.’’
A Defence Force spokesman said its sponsorship would continue.
‘‘The New Zealand Defence Force sponsors the Engineering Society, not individual students. There are no plans to review that.’’
Detective Sergeant Mike Freeman said police had spoken to the student’s family and would not be investigating the incident any further.
Two of the student’s flatmates, both of whom have recently been elected to the university’s student executive for 2017, said on Friday the man was not drinking on the night. The water in the paddling pool was about one metre deep. It was a ‘‘freak accident’’, they said.
‘‘It’s been rough, but we are just holding up for him.’’
According to the society’s guidelines for potential candidates, nominees were required to notify the AGM adjudicator of the content of the stunt prior to their filming.
‘‘The purpose of the stunt is to prove to the audience that you are the best man or woman for the job, and the lengths you are willing to go for the betterment of the club.’’
The form says stunts that involve serious injury to the candidate or anyone else would not be accepted. It also asks candidates to consider: ‘‘Are there likely to be serious long-term consequences from my stunt?’’
The student’s flatmates said Ensoc had scrapped the stunt requirement this year because of the accident.
‘‘Most people campaign and some people think, ‘Oh, I’ll just get on [the committee] for being rad’ and it’s not the general method.’’
The footage of the accident had been deleted, they said.
Ensoc’s president referred inquiries to the University of Canterbury.
Last week, a University spokesman said the university worked with the University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) to ensure students and clubs acted responsibly.
"In our view encouraging behaviour and stunts, such as the incident that took place is totally unacceptable." DB Brewery spokesman