Hospitalised after NUS orientation camp game gone wrong - no apology or accountability from the organizing committee or OSA

By DamagedWallaby

I am writing to share a serious and painful experience I endured whilst participating in an orientation camp at the National University of Singapore (NUS). During one particular activity, we were made to play a group game where blindfolded participants needed to pick up specific items foam pool buoys and thereafter tag team members of the opposing team with them. We could only take verbal instructions via our teammates standing around the play area - the opposing team, however, was permitted to yell out false directions in a bid to mislead us.


The game itself was already chaotically flawed, not least risky as hell, worse still things didn't pan out accordingly. While originally slated to be held at a safer outdoor space, it got relocated at the last minute to a small indoor area due to "logistical convenience". This indoor venue touted hard flooring as well as exposed concrete pillars, thus making it completely unsafe for moving about blindfolded.


In the midst of running around without being able to see, I collided with a concrete pillar and suffered a deep cut close to my eye. I was immediately hospitalised, with required surgery scheduled at 6am (ended up waiting at the A&E department for nearly 15 hours, mind you). The accident has left me with a visible scar, disrupted my recovery from an earlier medical procedure, not to mention causing significant emotional and physical stress. I was informed earlier I was eligible for a claim of medical expenses incurred through the university’s insurance coverage, yet the claim upon being filed was outright rejected on grounds the date my injury somehow happened past the benefit period. Till this day, there has been no proper follow-up, no offer to reimburse out-of-pocket medical/transport costs (totalling 4 digits) or provide any scar treatment, no ownership of the personal harm inflicted whatsoever. Nothing.


And the worst part? Not even a basic apology has been extended to me since then - not by the organizing committee, or Office of Student Affairs (OSA). So to all students matriculating into NUS present and future, let my unfortunate predicament be ample warning that the school management doesn't care an iota when mishaps arise on their watch. You are truly left to your own devices, good luck there.


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