WWW- Take all your clothes off, and improve your class’ overall score in the freshmen competition. This was the message new students received at the introduction program in the Gladsaxe High School north of Copenhagen at their first day of school.

In recent weeks, raucous introductory programs at the country’s universities have been criticized or banned by rectors, as they tend to involve more binge drinking and stripping competitions than useful information for the newcomers.

National daily Jyllands-Posten, however, reported that freshmen bashes at the nation’s gymnasia, or high schools, could be just as rowdy, despite the fact that most of the new students were only 15-16 years old.

At the Gladsaxe High School, nine first-grade groups with a total of 263 students participated in a competition, involving seven bases where students had to earn their class points. At every base, older students gave the classes points according to how many were willing to take off their clothes. For example, a class could raise its score if five girls were willing to show their breasts.

Many students shed their inhibitions as well as their clothes, with the visible results of entire classes of stark naked boys and girls only wearing their g-strings.

Students told reporters that they found the whole incident ‘hilarious’, and emphasized that the whole thing had been voluntary. Some, however, admitted that they had felt pressured to take off their clothes, and the festivities have been slated by rector, teacher, and student organizations around the country.

‘School authorities should ensure that intro-days are relaxed and respectful. Every high school has had problems with freshmen introductions, and this is a clear example of crossing the line,’ said chairman of the Rectors’ Association, Peter Kuhlman.

Uffe Lembo, chairman of the national high school student organisation, agreed that the fun had gone too far, as some students might feel pressured regardless of whether they stripped or not.

Education Minister Bertel Haarder said the tradition of encouraging freshmen to take off their clothes was just as out of place in the country’s high schools as in the universities.