Students at the University of Canterbury affected by illness are concerned about the impact of the disruption on their exams.
More than 100 students staying in the student accommodation have reported falling ill after eating a meal served on Sunday night. Residents at the hall who skipped the meal reportedly did not become ill.
Troy Lewis told 1News many of his peers became sick after eating at the student accommodation.
“We went to dinner at 5.10pm. I got both the chicken and beef option while some of my mates got only one. I woke up at 4am and had to rush to the toilet and found that I wasn’t the only one.”
“When talking to other people it seemed they all had chicken but some people still got sick from eating the beef.”
Troy then had to attend a physics exam for the engineering course, which was made “far more difficult” as he said he had to focus on not being ill.
“I noticed people from uni hall would leave and re-enter the exam room multiple times, and typically the same people would go multiple times, myself included.
“This experience really leaves a sour taste in my mouth, as they never even issued an apology. [They] just sent us a survey and said it was gastro which doesn’t make sense considering how many people got sick.”
Another student told 1News she sat an exam on Monday morning after one or two hours’ sleep.
“I definitely did not do as well as I could have had done if I had more sleep.”
She said some students were in the bathroom for long periods of the exams while others left and didn’t return “because they couldn’t keep it in”.
There was concern among some students that they wouldn’t get into courses next year as they didn’t do as well in the exam as expected.
University providing support
Last night, the university’s director of people, culture and campus life Paul O’Flaherty said affected students had been directed to UniLodge for any support they might require, including a free electrolyte mix, bottled water, and packaged meals.
“Students unable to sit exams due to illness can apply for special consideration and may be offered a resit for exams in the next couple of weeks, which they will need to allow time for,” O’Flaherty said.
“We are working closely with the National Public Health Service to investigate the cause of the illness, which includes a visit by Public Health staff to University Hall to test a small sample of students.”
New Zealand Food Safety deputy-director general Vincent Arbuckle said it was working with the National Public Health Service to look into an “outbreak of illness”.
“As part of this we are working to establish the cause of the outbreak, including possible food and non-food sources.”
Te Whatu Ora, and UniLodge have been contacted by 1News for comment.
