Several Hospitalized Following Dance At Occidental College

EAGLE ROCK (CBS) — Authorities Sunday said as many as eight people attending a party at Occidental College were transported to area hospitals where they were being checked out.

Billed as "Splatter," the on-campus event at Bell Field was described as a "paint-themed dance party" on the school's Web site.

It was unclear what prompted someone to call for help, but Los Angeles firefighters showed up shortly after midnight and the party was shut down, a camera crew at the scene reported.

Fire officials would not confirm whether the youths, who were transported to area hospitals, were intoxicated.

Jim Tranquada, the director of communications at Occidental, told a local television news station that college students are known for pushing boundaries, but they don't always show the best judgment. He said no alcohol was served at the dance.

"We can't always control what students do prior to the dance," Tranquada said.

Occidental College, founded in 1887, is a small liberal arts school with about 2,100 students. President Barack Obama attended Occidental from the fall of 1979 to the spring of 1981 before transferring to Columbia University in New York City.

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