In the last five years, there have been no incidents of students fainting in Northwestern University's organic chemistry laboratories, the lab director said. In the last seven years, two students at Duke University have passed out in the three- to four-hour labs, the lab manager said.
At GW, six students have passed out in the last two years in a science lab in Corcoran Hall alone, according to University records obtained by The Hatchet. Some University officials said the faintings were due to students not eating before class, but a national science safety expert said it could be because of poor ventilation.
Senior Lauren Stash was one of the six.
Jan. 27, 2007 was Stash's first day of chemistry lab and just after the instructor had given a safety lecture, she passed out, fell sideways onto lab equipment and was rushed to the GW Hospital to treat the gash in the back of her head.
According to school records, on Sept. 13, 2005, two students passed out in Corcoran. On Feb. 2, 2005, another two students passed out in the same building. On Feb. 26, 2007, one month after Stash passed out, another incident occurred and a student injured her head and hip.
"Students passing out during chemistry labs is not the norm," said Ken Roy, the chairperson of a science and safety board for the National Science Teachers Association.
University Police Department and the Emergency Medical Response Group are not called every time a student faints in the building, said Harland Westgate, public relations supervisor for EMeRG.
Michael King, chair of the Chemistry Department, said it is incumbent on students to come prepared for lab and that not eating could have negative effects.
"The students stated that they did not have anything to eat before class," King, chair of the Chemistry department, wrote in an e-mail. "As such they place themselves in jeopardy."
On the first day of classes, the graduate teaching assistants who conduct labs explain to students that they should eat before class and walk around if they feel lightheaded. Stash said she did not eat before her 10 a.m. chemistry lab, but she said she does not think that was the only reason she fainted.
At GW, six students have passed out in the last two years in a science lab in Corcoran Hall alone, according to University records obtained by The Hatchet. Some University officials said the faintings were due to students not eating before class, but a national science safety expert said it could be because of poor ventilation.
Senior Lauren Stash was one of the six.
Jan. 27, 2007 was Stash's first day of chemistry lab and just after the instructor had given a safety lecture, she passed out, fell sideways onto lab equipment and was rushed to the GW Hospital to treat the gash in the back of her head.
According to school records, on Sept. 13, 2005, two students passed out in Corcoran. On Feb. 2, 2005, another two students passed out in the same building. On Feb. 26, 2007, one month after Stash passed out, another incident occurred and a student injured her head and hip.
"Students passing out during chemistry labs is not the norm," said Ken Roy, the chairperson of a science and safety board for the National Science Teachers Association.
University Police Department and the Emergency Medical Response Group are not called every time a student faints in the building, said Harland Westgate, public relations supervisor for EMeRG.
Michael King, chair of the Chemistry Department, said it is incumbent on students to come prepared for lab and that not eating could have negative effects.
"The students stated that they did not have anything to eat before class," King, chair of the Chemistry department, wrote in an e-mail. "As such they place themselves in jeopardy."
On the first day of classes, the graduate teaching assistants who conduct labs explain to students that they should eat before class and walk around if they feel lightheaded. Stash said she did not eat before her 10 a.m. chemistry lab, but she said she does not think that was the only reason she fainted.
