The Saint
Pranksters leave rank remains in hall oven
Ruby Munson-Hirst
THE SHOCKING nature of student pranks reached unprecedented levels last week in University Hall when human faeces were discovered in a communal oven in the Lumsden B-floor kitchen.
It is believed that the culprits committed the act on the evening of the April 25, only to be found later on by a first year student at 10am the following morning.
Initial reactions of shock and disbelief amongst residents of University Hall were soon replaced by a consensus of anger and disgust as the details of what happened were revealed.
The first year student who discovered the mess, described how he was met by a bad smell after having turned the grill on to make some toast for his breakfast. He then rapidly became aware that he may have cooked more than just his toast.
Ryan, who studies medicine, subsequently realised that there was human excrement on the shelves of the oven.
Once the incident had been reported to hall staff, the kitchen was closed until industrial cleaners were later brought in to deal with the remains. One B floor resident said he was angry and annoyed that someone would do that to our facilities, highlighting the insensitivity of the act as well as the inconvenience caused to many residents and staff.
This is not the first time that University Hall has fallen victim to this kind of practical joke. A similar incident occurred two years ago on a different floor, where a microwave was used to similar ends. Despite this, authorities believe that no connection exists between the two acts of vandalism.
The prank on B floor has been branded as a serious risk to health and safety, unpleasant for both staff and students who work and live there. Perhaps most frustrating for residents, though, is the decision to use the hall committee budget to cover the cost of cleaning and replacing the oven.
University Hall residents shared sense of disgust towards the prank and the close spirit environment of the Lumsden B-floor, has led some students to believe that it was committed by a non-resident outsider. However, despite speculation, the culprits have not yet been caught, and the Wardennial team is keen to talk to anyone who may have information. One B-floor resident summed up the collective feeling of disappointment towards this case of toilet tricks being brought into a communal cooking space, commenting that, Were all up for a laugh, but not that!
