Praxe

Older students often create humorous situations and playful jokes involving freshmen, offering them a warm welcome through initiation rituals.

These groups, led by "veterans" (older students), plan activities, rituals, traditions, gatherings, trips, meals, parties, and more, often without any oversight or involvement from the school administration, faculty, or other academic associations.

In most Portuguese higher education institutions, male and female students participate in some gender-specific rituals to ensure dignity and respect.

Coimbra and Porto claim to preserve the heritage of authentic academic traditions, often contrasting their practices with the newer customs adopted by younger universities and higher education institutions.

An increasing number of institutions now organize alternative initiation events for freshmen, focusing on solidarity and community service activities.

[5][6] [failed verification] The roots of Praxe trace back to the 14th century, when it was practiced by the clergy,[2] significantly influencing the design of the academic attire.

[2] The outfit, originally created for the students of the University of Coimbra, is a key part of praxe, symbolizing equality, respect, and humility.

This myth has been clarified by the Conselho de Veteranos of the University of Coimbra (the council responsible for protecting Praxe Académica), which explained that students should, in fact, wash the cloak for hygienic purposes.

[10] In the 2000s, students appealed to the Ministry of Higher Education, led by Mariano Gago, to seek justice for praxe abuse, as institutions often ignored their complaints.

These may include forcing them to perform large numbers of push-ups, "kiss the ground," or stand in uncomfortable positions for prolonged periods.

[4][15][failed verification] In another case, eight freshmen had to hide from a mob of older students to avoid being harmed, an incident that later prompted police intervention.

[18][failed verification] In 2001, Diogo Macedo, a 4th-year Architecture student at the Universidade Lusíada of Vila Nova de Famalicão, died from wounds caused by massive trauma to his spine.

Judicial proceedings found the university guilty of failing to supervise such events on campus and awarded the parents of the deceased student 90,000 euros.

[19] On the night of 15 December 2013, six members of an academic troupe from the private Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias drowned after being caught by a rogue wave at Meco beach.

The sole survivor, João Gouveia, Dux Veteranorum of the praxe at Lusófona University, claimed temporary amnesia regarding the events.