Three University of Otago students have been expelled from classes for a semester for breaching the institution's code of conduct at the toga parade in February.

It is not known whether a second-year student, appealing attempts to expel him for throwing eggs at students as they walked along George St in the annual Orientation parade, is among them.

Following an Otago Daily Times request under the Official Information Act asking if the student had been expelled after his June 10 appeal, registrar Jan Flood said in a statement the university would not comment on a specific appeal.

University regulations stated all hearings before the appeals board should be in private and its proceedings confidential.

However, she was able to advise that, to date, 17 students had been identified as breaching the university's code of conduct during the toga parade.

Action was possible against any others subsequently identified.

All those identified were referred to the police.

In addition, they faced university disciplinary action.

In three cases, exclusion from the university for a semester was imposed.

No appeals were still under way in relation to the toga parade, she said.

Traditionally, older students throw eggs, flour and water bombs at first-year students walking along George St in the Otago University Student Association-organised event.

However, some onlookers went further this year.

Bottles were seen being thrown and, according to some reports, faeces were thrown as well.

The following morning, rubbish and bottles were strewn along George St, several signs and windows were broken, and the footpath and shopfronts were splattered with blood, vomit, eggs and flour.

The second-year student, who admitted throwing eggs, said it was unfair to expel him.

He would not comment about the outcome of his appeal hearing.

- allison.rudd@odt.co.nz