LOS ANGELES ÷ A freshman living in New Residential College at the University of Southern California died Saturday of blood poisoning.

University Park Health Center physicians said the death of Jered Connon, 18, may have been related to a meningococcal infection, although the cause may never be positively identified.

Connon tested negative for the bacterium that causes meningitis because he was given antibiotics before his blood was drawn and spinal fluid taken, Dr. William Leavitt, University Park Health Center physician, said Monday night. The antibiotics, which killed the bacteria, were given because Connon was suffering from a seizure, Leavitt added.

Connon, a business administration major, died at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif., where he was visiting his family.

Connon's family notified the staff at the North residential area, which includes New, North and Birnkrant residential colleges, that Connon was sick Saturday evening, area director Lora Julian said. A short while later, the staff found out he had died.

Connon lived on the first floor of the New Residential College.

The residential life staff immediately told resident advisers to talk to the student community, Julian said.

The residential life staff at New and North held information sessions about meningitis Saturday and Sunday nights. About 40 students attended the first session, and about 70 attended the second, said Celso Delgado, a senior majoring in sociology and a residential adviser in North.

Student Health Services has not confirmed that Connon had meningitis, said Cynthia Cherrey, associate vice president of Student Affairs.

The university opened the University Park Health Center "as soon as we had any indication" that Connon's death may have been related to a meningococcal infection, Cherrey said.