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by Rory MacDonald | 3:04 am, 18/10/2010
They are convenient, sometimes necessary, and always costly. We’re not talking about a fuck buddy, but the Dunedin taxi service. Whether you jump in them on the cold, cold nights, or when you don’t want to be seen with whoever you’ve pulled from the increasingly scummy Metro Bar, taking a taxi in Dunedin is often a liberty that we students take for granted.
by Teuila Fuatai | 1:58 am, 18/10/2010
The Otago Daily Times last week ran a heart-warming tale about 73-year-old Wakari resident Tony Brosnan getting some students around to do his housework.
by Julia Hollingsworth | 1:49 am, 18/10/2010
The results of the OUSA referendum were announced last Thursday, with only 2 of the 13 motions meeting the required quorum of 1049 votes.
by Julia Hollingsworth | 1:07 am, 18/10/2010
The role the Otago Daily Times played in the recent local body elections is coming under scrutiny.
by Julia Hollingsworth | 11:08 pm, 17/10/2010
Finance and Services Officer James Meager has resigned from his position on the OUSA Executive. Meager’s resignation letter casts doubt on the way the Exec is run and OUSA President Harriet Geoghegan’s leadership style.
OUSA to set $90 000 on fire. Maybe.
by Julia Hollingsworth | 1:18 am 06/09/2010
OUSA intends to put its membership in New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) in the hands of its members.
In 2010, OUSA paid $86 169 in membership fees to NZUSA. The fees go towards national representation of students and lobbying in Parliament. In the revised OUSA Budget, the NZUSA budget line has been increased to $90 939.
In the first draft of the Budget, the NZUSA budget line had been reduced to $0, clearly indicating OUSA’s intentions towards NZUSA. However, at the Budget-setting meeting, OUSA voted to increase the line 5.5 percent in 2011 to allow for inflation, and an increase in OUSA members, and put OUSA’s membership in NZUSA to a student referendum.
The OUSA Executive was evenly split on the issue, with strong opinions voiced on both sides. Humanities Rep Walker MacMurdo advocated putting the decision to the students, while last year’s Finance and Services Officer Mike Bridges, who was sitting in on the meeting, asserted that this was a massive and complex decision which the Exec were the best informed to make. Ultimately, it was decided that the Exec should inform the students about the issue, and ask them to weigh in.
OUSA President Harriet Geoghegan could not comment on the decision, stating that she was not present during the meeting. It is not currently clear when the referendum would be held.
Canterbury University has already pulled out of NZUSA, on the grounds of “contractual breaches.” NZUSA accepted Canterbury University’s decision as valid.
No one on the OUSA Exec has gone on the record to give Critic a clear indication as to why it should no longer be a part of NZUSA. There is a feeling, however, that for the same amount of money OUSA could more effectively lobby the Government itself.
NZUSA currently requires 12 months’ notice prior to universities withdrawing their membership, although OUSA is attempting to change the constitution to require only three months’ notice. However, OUSA is confident that the notice period wouldn’t change their Budget, as NZUSA tends not to follow up payments during the year’s notice.
