He refused to be part of the Sotus (Seniority, Order, Tradition, Unity and Spirit) induction and started a Facebook page outlining the ceremonies - many of them humiliating - that new students faced as part of university life.
He explained that during freshmen's week, students must follow strange rituals such as dressing only in black and wearing Nanyang brand sport shoes. They are not allowed to carry any valuable personal belongings, not even a telephone.
Male students are banned from riding behind female cyclists and motorcyclists. Some faculties prohibit relationships, with students restricted to their dormitories outside study hours. Even when they want to leave the university campus, they have to seek approval from senior students who specify how long they can be away for. Those who break the rules are punished. Some of the rituals are enforced through the entire first year.
The freshmen are also forced to wear a tag carrying their student ID number, and punishment comes in the form of being shouted at and humiliated by senior students and being forced into "silly acts" such as dancing in the canteen, dressing in funny costumes or doing push-ups.
"I have disagreed with it since my first year at university," said Mr Panuwad, 20, who is in his second year and is secretary-general of the Anti-Sotus group.
"I refused to become involved in any of the activities of the university or my faculty, which later caused problems for me. There were social sanctions and I was criticised a lot. I was ostracised as I posted some of the university's secrets on Facebook a few days before I started my university life. They said information such as the rules and the 'welcoming traditions' are all secret but I think they are human rights violations."