ONE of Australia's most prestigious university colleges has suspended 30 male students after a wild Orientation Week drinking game left a young woman in hospital.

The University of Sydney's St John's College has suspended every student from the fourth floor of its Polding Wing after a first-year ''fresher'' was rushed to Royal Price Alfred Hospital last Sunday having suffered an adverse reaction to an alcoholic cocktail. The teenager collapsed after second and third-year students allegedly accosted her in a hall and told her she could not leave until she consumed the initiation drink. She allegedly protested, citing an allergy to alcohol. It is claimed the group persisted until she conceded, although at least one suspended student insists there was no coercion.

Anti-social behaviour … rector Michael Bongers says the drinking game was an ''unfortunate and atypical event'' at St John's. Credit:Jon Reid

Minutes later, the young woman was found convulsing on a corridor floor by a fellow student who was acting as an O-Week first-aid volunteer. The young woman has since been discharged from hospital.

The unprecedented decision to suspend 30 students for ''inappropriate conduct'' was taken by the St John's College rector, Michael Bongers. Since his arrival at the college in 2009, Mr Bongers has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on excessive drinking and other anti-social behaviour which, over generations, has become ingrained in university culture.