BLOOMINGTON - Sixteen Bloomington High School students are serving suspensions as a result of a food fight that broke out last week in the school cafeteria amid a power failure.

"A food fight in a darkened cafeteria is a serious situation," said Principal Cindy Helmers. "We were fortunate there were no more serious injuries."

Some parents who said their children received 10-day suspensions have told the Pantagraph they felt the punishment was excessive. Helmers said few parents have appealed the suspensions.

Rumors that the dozens of students were suspended are not true, she said.

The food fight happened about 11:45 a.m. in the B lunch period Wednesday. Power failed in the school, and emergency lighting quickly kicked in, Helmers said.

At that moment, a student threw something, starting the food fight, Helmers said.

"It lasted for just a few seconds," she said of the food fight. "Teachers, monitors and administrators were there to settle it down, and they did."

About 450 to 500 students were present, but the number who actually participated was much smaller.

Only those who were identified or turned themselves in were suspended, said Barry Reilly, assistant superintendent of human resources for Bloomington's District 87 schools.

"There may have been more involved," he said.

A person doesn't always get caught for making bad choices, he said. If students continue to make bad choices, however, "it will catch up with them sooner or later," Reilly said.

The suspensions happened during homecoming, so four BHS football players were suspended for the homecoming game against Mattoon, and all the suspended students missed the dance or other homecoming events.

There was no traditional homecoming bonfire this year, but the decision to cancel it was unrelated to the food fight or suspensions, Helmers said. The baseball field was enlarged, reducing the space available for a bonfire.

"There wasn't enough room to hold it and still be safe," Helmers said.

Movies were shown in the auditorium instead, she said.