Students poisoned during initiation

Students poisoned during initiation

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): At least 52 new students of
Makasar University here were rushed to the hospital on Monday
suffering from food poisoning.

"I think our lunch was stale," said one of the 1,500 students
taking part in the university's initiation program, referring to
the meals provided by the initiation organizers.

A number of organizers provided the food, including the
lunches served in the cafeteria of the School of Education and
Social Sciences. Hundreds of students ate lunch in the cafeteria,
and 52 of the students were severely affected.

They complained of headaches, nausea and vomiting, and were
taken to Labuang Baji Hospital and Faisal Islamic Hospital here.

The president of the student body, Chaeruddin, accepted
responsibility for the incident, also laying some of the blame on
cafeteria managers.

Dr. Etty Suharti of Faisal Islamic Hospital confirmed the
students were suffering from food poisoning. "Fortunately they
were immediately brought to the hospital ... a delay would have
caused dehydration (which could be fatal)," she said.

University spokesman Arifin Pasingringi blamed the incident on
initiation organizers, who were mostly students. He said they
should pay for the hospitalization of the students, adding that
the university would pay only a small amount of the hospital
bills.

The students were still hospitalized as of late Monday.
(27/06)