Archive

ODT Watch | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

Okay, so not everyone that walks around with a gun is sinister. But generally speaking, when a guy is walking around central Queenstown with a rifle, you can presume that he’s probably not such a great guy. There is nothing shocking about this. It is of course entirely possible for Read more...

World Watch | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Sumantra Maitra

Bonjour! Comment ça va? How are we today? Apparently the world is still round, with no odd nuke meltdown or tsunami warning anywhere. US/Israel/Iran mega-borefest is just where it was a couple of weeks back, so is the North-South Korean drama, and the Indo-Sino-Pak threesome. Putin “managed” to win Read more...

Objection Overruled | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by

This year will mark possibly the final ruckus of the wonder that is the Hyde Street Keg Party. Every March, scarfies flock in their thousands to Hyde, aptly decorated as it is to house the chronic intoxication, fornication and defecation that unfolds. One would be hard pressed to find an event to Read more...

Me Love You Long Time | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Lovebirds

Dunedin is renowned for many things, but its dating scene is not one of them. Getting boozed and pashing people on the dance floor is hardly anyone’s idea of romance, so Critic wants to sort you out. Every week we’re sending two loveless loners on a blind date to Tokyo Gardens (with a bottle of wine Read more...

Execrable | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

The OUSA Exec meeting got off to a constitutionally dodgy beginning by starting 13-minutes after the strict 5:30pm deadline. This was dealt with by some good old fashioned whitewashing, with the official minutes recording the time as 5:29pm. Students are advised to follow a similar procedure when Read more...

The Tory Templar | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by The Tory Templar

Our government is planning to get tough on immigration, with proposals for a two-tiered system where so-called wealthier people will be favoured. National hopes to stop unskilled migrants and adult dependent children entering the country. The Templar applauds the government for making these Read more...

Red and Starry Eyed | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Red and Starry Eyed

New Zealand likes to mythologise itself “100% green”. A similar myth is that the country is tolerant and open to migrants. You may remember last year a boat of Sri Lankan migrants “threatened” to make it to our picturesque coasts. “Luckily” it didn’t. John Key used rhetoric that implied they would Read more...

Proctology | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

This week, the Proctor is high about Hyde. Expectations have been set for the event to be smoothly run and for the vast majority of students to thrive in the buzzing human hive known as Hyde Street Keg Party. Not wanting to expose any stories of past Hyde Street mishaps to avoid Read more...

Scarfie Chronicles | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

Hyde Street Keg Party. The big day is coming around quicker than Dave Cull can say “North Dunedin Liquor Ban” so, as the residents of Hyde Street start to prepare themselves and with near to 30 themes already announced, Critic did a bit of recon and found out just what might be in store for the Read more...

Editorial | Issue 4

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Joe Stockman

I never got behind the Occupy movement, despite agreeing with most of the many and varied changes that they were calling for. I never spent a night asleep in the Octagon; I never bashed away on my keyboard writing about their campaign to make the world a fairer, better place. Occupy failed to Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 3

Posted 3:28pm Wednesday 14th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

The weather has been pretty shite recently, and the ODT is all over it. When the sun did turn up for a few minutes, the ODT online (that’s right, they have a website), waxed seriously lyrical over its arrival. After David Bain’s retrial and acquittal it turns out that we can’t Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 2

Posted 3:28pm Wednesday 14th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

There is really very little that I can add to the ODT’s work this week. They have simply outdone themselves. Yes it is ODT. Yes it is. They then lost their shit that only four of the people arrested in town on Saturday night were students. Sorry ODT, we’ll try harder next Read more...

ODT Watch | Issue 1

Posted 3:28pm Wednesday 14th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

If you’ve never read the Otago Daily Times, you and I could probably be friends. I have to read it, but out of that hard slog every morning comes the glorious ridiculousness that is ODT Watch. You see, the ODT is no ordinary daily paper. Its dedication to bad puns and dad jokes is unsurpassed in NZ Read more...

The Tory Templar | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by The Tory Templar

New Zealand’s own terror trials have started. They began with a mini version of Survivor which saw the suspects whittled down to the “real bad guys”. And now resident “rent-a-protestor” John Minto has got on board. If the Templar had a dollar for every half-arse cause John got on board with he’d be Read more...

Presidential Column | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Logan Edgar

Hey Gang, One big number item for Logz to inform you lot of this week, Last week I spent an afternoon going door to door down Hyde St. I informed students of a little party that is set to take place on their street on the 24th of the month (surprise). I wanted to do this because there Read more...

Te Roopu Māori | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Lisa Pohatu

Kia Ora te whanau, o Te Roopu Māori. Ki te kahore he whakakitenga ka ngaro te iwi Without foresight or vision the people will be lost. The Mission Statement of Te Rito is: “Te Rito will establish an environment within the University of Otago that recognises - Taha, tinana, Read more...

Classic Film | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Sam McChesney

Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen All The Dude ever wanted was his rug back. When Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (Jeff Bridges) is mistaken for an indebted millionaire of same name, and his rug is thusly micturated upon by a porn baron’s enforcer, he embarks on an epic quest to obtain, you Read more...

LILF | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Hot For Teacher

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that an English lecturer in possession of a good student must be in want of a naughty schoolgirl encounter …” The old adage of not judging a book by its cover went out the window the first time I met the good Dr. Rogers. As our eyes locked Read more...

Straight Up | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by La Dida

Oh that’s it. (Cracks knuckles, removes rings). I’m mad. This piece is in solidarity with the Wellington based group the Queer Avengers who protested outside the Dominion Post Wellington offices last week. Their protest was organised in response to an article “Why I feel for the kids of Read more...

Uncle Howie | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Uncle Howie

Hey Howie, So there’s this really hot chick on my floor. In fact she is just across the hall from me. We’re great friends and get on really well. I’d love to hook up with her, but I’m not sure if I can handle the awkward morning after experience. I’d be pretty gutted if she came home with someone Read more...

Geekology | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Robbie Masters

Hello again young science buffs! This week’s column is coming at you from Otago Uni’s very own Physics Department, where PhD candidate Ken Hughes has been doing some scintillating research on Antarctic sea ice. Specifically, Ken has been constructing a computer simulation of how sea ice is formed in Read more...

Me Love You Long Time | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Lovebirds

Dunedin is renowned for many things, but its dating scene is not one of them. Getting boozed and pashing people on the dance floor is hardly anyone’s idea of romance, so Critic wants to sort you out. Every week we’re sending two loveless loners on a blind date to Tokyo Gardens (with a bottle of wine Read more...

How to: Grow Hops in Your Flat

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

Hops is the plant that is used to flavour beer. Hops is also the closest relative of the cannabis plant, and many of the techniques developed for growing cannabis indoors can be applied to the hops plant. Using the instructions below you will be able to grow your own hops plant in your flat and save Read more...

Red and Starry Eyed | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Red and Starry Eyed

Get red-y for a piece of advice: Do not trust the government. Not just John Key’s, don’t trust Labour either. Currently in court four “terrorists” are being tried for being the supposed ringleaders of a group planning war against the police and government. The case goes back to 2007, when 300 Read more...

Scarfie Chronicles | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Josie Adams

After settling down to nurse their heads after O-Week, the Scarfies are now back in the game. In a highly exciting turn of events, a Dunedin flatwarming was shut down recently, for reasons we shall hopefully glean from TV in a couple of months. That’s right, Police 10/7 visited the student ghetto. Read more...

Editorial | Issue 3

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Joe Stockman

As young, well-educated people, we often feel a deep desire to try and make positive change in the world. We appreciate the unique privilege of being born in a peaceful, developed country, being well educated and enjoying social and economic success. We hope that we can do something to really make a Read more...

Editorial | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Joe Stockman

I am a white, middle-class, straight guy with a BA. I wish sometimes I were more exotic. I see bisexual Spaniards with mullets and tattoos and I get awfully jealous. But I have had to come to terms with who I am and make the most of it. And since the world is basically built for white, middle class Read more...

Scarfie Chronicles | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by The Scarfie Archivist

Maybe the glory days of Scarfiedom are over, and maybe they’re not. Regardless, we don’t have to go to far back in the archives to find some truly awesome scarfie antics. The Editor of a certain student magazine remembers the poor sod who was last to turn 18 at UniCol in his first year. When Read more...

Proctology | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

Perhaps the summer break is too long for some students. 94 students managed to lose enough brain cells over the holidays to end up having to climb those stairs to visit the Proctor over O-Week. Amazingly enough, not one of the incidents leading to these little sit-downs of justice occurred Read more...

Presidential Column | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Logan Edgar

Gidday mate, Firstly apologies for last week’s Presidents column it was a bit shitbox. I let myself down and I let you down. And for that I apologize. You see, I was a rather busy boy last week – as you may have heard we at OUSA threw a wee party down at the Stadium. So I didn’t have much Read more...

Every day I’m chapil’n | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Greg Hughson

I enjoyed Orientation this year. It was great to meet so many students around campus, as well as in our Residential Colleges and around the Combined Christian Groups BBQ on the Museum Reserve late at night. What would you say you enjoyed most about Orientation? What did you enjoy least? I’d really Read more...

Lozz's World | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Lozz Holding

Hi kids. Currently I am sufficiently hung over to qualify for a disability grant. On top of feeling like a chemo patient in his fourth week of treatment, I am also extremely fucked off. I’m not angry about the rash on my crotch or the lingering smell of red Powerade-vomit wafting through the flat, Read more...

Swillable | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Mr Squid

Taste: 7.5/10 Price: $12.95 Standards per vessel: 7.1 I had my pinot at room temperature so as not to kill the flavour. Besides, I had a lady coming over to help with the tasting. I thought it would sweeten the deal to let her think I was some impressive wine connoisseur; a modern Read more...

Objection Overruled | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by

Dear Critic – I headed down to Castle street last weekend, and needless to say, shit was pretty loose down there. I noticed that Campus Watch and the cops were all over the place! What’s up with those guys? What do I need to watch out for being the unassuming young blood that I am? – Troubled Read more...

Classic Film | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Jane Ross

Director: Peter Yates What happens if you just don’t know what you’re supposed to do with your life? Breaking Away is a funny, intelligent, uplifting, and at times heartbreaking coming-of-age film that attempts to answer this question for a group of four high school graduates. Academy Award Read more...

Clubs & Skux | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Olivia & John

I guess I should explain the premise of this column. John and I, (John is away skuxing overseas this week) go to clubs and try to have enlightening cultural experiences, while at the same time rating them on their ‘skuxability’. Also, John and I both vary on the Kinsley scale (we are both at least Read more...

Straight Up | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by La Dida

I have been up in Auckland for the last couple of weeks, which has been sunny and fabulous. I managed to head to the Big Gay Out, which was cool despite the inclement weather, and the fact that John Key was voted sexiest male politician. That poll must be rigged, cause John Key rates below zero on Read more...

World Watch | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Sumantra Maitra

Aloha! Guess who’s back? Yes, the same Indian wordsmith, who got a chance after tickling the nostalgic side of your editor. Or maybe it was a quota thing, we Indians are used to quotas. Anyhoo … The world was as usual very interesting – not as interesting as my roommate finding 36 tin can openers in Read more...

Uncle Howie | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Uncle Howie

Dear Howie I was out at Monkey on Saturday night getting my skux on, and I noticed that for each hot girl, there were like 10 guys dancing around her. What the hell man, can’t a guy have a lady to himself anymore? – Still solo Hi mate, The “Sex Pit” of any dance floor is a dangerous Read more...

How to: Pick Up

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Staff Reporter

So apparently Critic is talking about sex this week, or at least it seems like it is. So in that vein, I’d like to discuss the mystical art of picking up. Some of us can do it without even trying, fuckers. Fuck them and their nonchalant good looks and well-fitting clothes; their stylishly-coiffed Read more...

Me Love You Long Time | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Lovebirds

Dunedin is renowned for many things, but its dating scene is not one of them. Getting boozed and pashing people on the dance floor is hardly anyone’s idea of romance, so Critic wants to sort you out. Every week we’re sending two loveless loners on a blind date to Tokyo Gardens (with a bottle of wine Read more...

The Tory Templar | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by The Tory Templar

The Templar’s blood boils when thinking about this issue. It is the one thing on which no compromise exists. The act of abortion may have become more acceptable in this country’s culture but the Templar will never be anything other than disgusted by it. Abortion is, in no uncertain terms, Read more...

Red and Starry Eyed | Issue 2

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Red and Starry Eyed

Every now and then, at the entrance to the hospital, one can still be harassed by people wearing anti-abortion sandwich boards adorned with gory photos. Funnily enough, most of these ‘protesters’ are men. Abortion debates in New Zealand are nothing compared to those in the US or other deeply Read more...

Presidential Column

Posted 5:25pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Logan Edgar

A bloody good welcome to ya, Here lies the first yarn of the year (apart form all those Orientadium yarns you saw before this). This is where I set about having a rant about what’s going on with the Executive so you know what we’re up to or sometimes just have a big whack on about the week. Read more...

VC's Letter

Posted 5:10pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Professor Harlene Hayne

The beginning of the new academic year is a very exciting time. One of the reasons that I became a professor (and ultimately a Vice-Chancellor) is that I have always been hooked on that “back to university” feeling. I love everything about this time of year - the renewed energy in town, crisp new Read more...

Te Roopu Māori | Issue 1

Posted 5:07pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Te Roopu Maori

Tenei te mihi ki a koutou nga tauira hou o Te Whare Wananga o Otakou! Nau mai, haere mai, rarau mai ra ki raro i te tahuhu o Ngai Tahu ratou ko Ngati Mamoe me Waitaha.  Kia Ora koutou and welcome to Otago Uni! Hope you have all got amongst O-Week, made some new friends, joined some Read more...

Lozz's World

Posted 3:41pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Lozz Holding

Kia Ora and all that shit. Welcome to the first installment of Lozz’s World. Throughout this completely self-indulgent column I will discuss current events (yeah, not really), express my opinion on everything relevant to scarfies, pass on the silliest yarns from around campus and generally rant Read more...

Swillable

Posted 3:33pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Pilbo Swaggins

Taste: 7/10, Percentage: 5%, Price: 12-pack, $23.99 on special (RRP: 26.99), Standards per vessel: 1.3 First produced during the summer of 1998, and re-released in batch form every summer since, Monteith’s Brewing Company refers to this particular brew as “a fresh, bright and lively Read more...

World Watch

Posted 3:15pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Sumantra Maitra

Kia Ora and welcome to the very first World Watch, a whimsical look at the stranger goings-on in the world. I was pretty lucky to get to write this column, considering that Critic already boasts a little short of seventeen thousand volunteers. But I somehow cornered our sprightly young Editor, and Read more...

Classic Film

Posted 3:12pm Saturday 25th February 2012 by Sam McChesney

Director: Roman Polanski Chinatown is a blockbuster that would never get made today: main characters die off-screen, the plot has something to do with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, there is a light-hearted visual gag about wife-beating, the protagonist spends half the film Read more...

How to: Be a Fresher

Posted 6:16pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Staff Reporter

Now, you might not think that you need a guide to being a fresher – it should just come naturally, right? Wrong. Being the best fresher that you can be is the result of hours of hard work and preparation. It is not a challenge to be taken lightly. To help you on your way, Critic has compiled the Read more...

Straight Up

Posted 6:09pm Friday 24th February 2012 by La Dida

So, the first queer column of 2012 is about marriage. No surprise there. The happy dyad of gay marriage and adoption reform seem to dominate queer media, community and social spaces at the moment. I hear it all the time: “gay marriage is the next step/last frontier”, “it’s the rights issue of our Read more...

Geekology

Posted 5:56pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Robbie Masters

The human brain is a complex beast, with approximately 100 billion cells and perhaps 100 trillion connections between them. These connections form information “highways”, which pass electrical currents from one part of the brain to the next. Almost everything you do as a human is dependent on these Read more...

Uncle Howie

Posted 5:32pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Uncle Howie

Dear Howie, I recently met a stunning redhead named Suzy outside Metro one balmy Saturday night. Needless to say, the attraction was instant and things got hot and heavy fast. The thing is, Suzy would like me to perform something in the bedroom, and I’m not exactly confident in my abilities. She Read more...

LILF

Posted 5:25pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Hot For Teacher

Hello, Peter. May I call you Peter? Whenever I ask you this in my head, you say that I can call you anything I like, and wink roguishly. Of course, I am more than willing to call you “sir”, if you would prefer. In my first year of study I had the delight of being in your CELS191 lectures, and Read more...

Me Love You Long Time

Posted 5:05pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Lovebirds

Dunedin is renowned for many things, but its dating scene is not one of them. Getting boozed and pashing people on the dance floor is hardly anyone’s idea of romance, so Critic wants to sort you out. Every week we’re sending two loveless loners on a blind date to Tokyo Gardens (with a bottle of wine Read more...

The Tory Templar

Posted 3:28pm Friday 24th February 2012 by The Tory Templar

The nanny is back and she’s letting her nanny-state culture bleed into every sector of our lives. The University’s recent actions have shown that in loco parentis, the Uni’s right to act in place of your parents, is making a comeback. The idea that the University should be allowed to dictate Read more...

Red and Starry Eyed

Posted 3:22pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Red and Starry Eyed

While freshers are still hiding behind their maps, the scarfie lifestyle is yet again being frowned upon by the DCC. This problem isn’t new – they have wanted to impose a liquor ban in North D since 2006. They want to drop the last drip of our SoGos; probably cause they haven’t been invited to a Read more...

Editorial

Posted 3:11pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Joe Stockman

Kia Ora and welcome to Critic 2012. Founded in 1925, Critic is your student magazine. It is our job to reflect student society and culture, and allow you guys to see yourselves, and your issues, in your own media. We keep an eye on OUSA and the University to ensure they’re behaving themselves, and Read more...

Debatable - 28

Posted 3:21am Monday 17th October 2011 by Critic

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “that individuals should be allowed to sell their organs”. Rebecca Gates argues the affirmative while John Brinsley-Pirie argues the Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 28

Posted 2:53am Monday 17th October 2011 by Critic

Tin Tin Before my date I had been pre-drinking with a couple of flatmates, as seems customary for such endeavours. My solo walk to Toast only cemented my suspicion I shouldn’t have drunk as much, but adventure favours the bold, right? As I arrived, my gaze fell straight onto the Read more...

Editorial - 28

Posted 2:18am Monday 17th October 2011 by Editor

Blah blah blah, sad, blah blah blah, k thnx bye   Shit’s about to get all soppy and nostalgic, so if you can’t stomach that sort of thing, I’d recommend you quickly turn the page.   I’ve been Editor now for approximately a year, and what a ridiculous year it’s been. After all the late Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 27

Posted 5:25am Monday 10th October 2011 by Critic

Rose When I signed up for Summer Lovin’ I was expecting to have a week or two to amp myself up for said lovin' - if they even contacted me at all. What I actually got was a paltry six hours to mentally and physically prepare myself for a blind date with a guy who would undoubtably be Read more...

Debatable - 27

Posted 4:46am Monday 10th October 2011 by Critic

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “that New Zealand should get rid of MMP”. John Brinsley-Pirie argues the affirmative while Ben Loughrey-Webb from the Campaign for MMP Read more...

Editorial - 27

Posted 4:08am Monday 10th October 2011 by Editor

Penultimate Prattering To many, politics are about as exciting as watching cricket being played by senile citizens in slow motion. And by that, I mean not very. Me, I’m one of those odd folks who actually enjoys politics. I wish my interest were entirely due to principled ideals, but like Read more...

Summer Lovin' -26

Posted 4:14am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Critic

Marge I have only read a Summer Lovin' article once before, and I remember laughing to myself thinking I would never do that. Imagine my surprise when my best friend waltzes into my room on a Monday night, announcing gleefully that she had signed me up for Summer Lovin' and that I had a Read more...

Debatable - 26

Posted 3:46am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Critic

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “that this house would ban product endorsement by celebrities”. Maddie Harris argues the affirmative while Kate Rouch argues the Read more...

Editorial - 26

Posted 2:49am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Editor

Break It Down It finally happened! The lumbering elephant in the corner, the symbol of freedom, the subject of doomsday proclamations, the cause of the nearing apocolypse. Yep, the notorious VSM passed through its third reading last Wednesday. To be honest, I’m secretly quite relieved. Not Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 24

Posted 5:56am Monday 19th September 2011 by Critic

Minnie My good friend was supposed to be going on this week’s date, but after breaking into hot sweats and vomiting due to nerves an hour before she was supposed to go, I kindly stepped up to the plate. I walked into Toast at 8pm and managed to walk right past my date. This could be Read more...

Black Penises, White Supremacy

Posted 4:36am Monday 19th September 2011 by Julia Hollingsworth

Every city seems to have a Rugby World Cup-related controversy, and Dunedin is holding its own with the Rachael Rakena’s phallic work erected in the Octagon just in time for the hoards of sports fans. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the purpose of the work has been overshadowed by comments Read more...

Editorial - 23

Posted 2:21am Monday 12th September 2011 by Editor

I believe in miracles This week is our “Beliefs” issue. We’re not talking about what you think exists (I, for instance, refuse to believe in exclamation marks, despite being constantly confronted with evidence to the contrary). We’re talking about the views you hold dear, the ideas that define Read more...

Diatribe - 23

Posted 2:19am Monday 12th September 2011 by P. Bateman

It is a common belief that the "Exam period" of Otago life is detrimental to student romance. When exams are happening and a few weeks beforehand, it is apparently a terrible time for scuxing, flirting, sexing, doing spade work or making sweet love. It is commonly thought that as people go Read more...

Debatable - 23

Posted 2:16am Monday 12th September 2011 by Will Chrisholm and Paul Hunt

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “that rugby league is better than rugby union”. Will Chisholm argues the affirmative while Paul Hunt argues the negative.   Read more...

Editorial - 21

Posted 10:46pm Monday 22nd August 2011 by Editor

SNOWY, SNOWY NIGHT It’s just been one of those weeks, really. The internet is moving as slowly as a dying snail, the snow has melted, changing the weather from romantically idyllic to painfully cold, and assignments are setting in, leaving the general population in an academic malaise. First Read more...

Debatable - 21

Posted 10:37pm Monday 22nd August 2011 by John and Sue

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “That Pokémon are better than pets”. John argues the affirmative, while Sue argues the negative. Affirmative I never used to Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 20

Posted 4:53am Monday 15th August 2011 by Aladdin and Jasmine

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date. Aladdin   In the back of my mind there was a whisper, “this could be your lucky night”. The bright summer loving was shining on me as I arrived at the lads’ place for the pep talk. What if she’s a muddy? Read more...

IT'S A MAN'S WORLD

Posted 3:04am Monday 15th August 2011 by Julia Hollingsworth

Or at least, a Men's Issue. Rather than resting our laurels with last week’s women’s issue, we’ve decided to outdo ourselves and make a men’s issue too. Because, well, we like men as well, and sexism can go both ways. Watch out for that. Feeling a little out Read more...

Debatable - 20

Posted 3:00am Monday 15th August 2011 by Maddie Harris and Kurt Purdon

This week’s motion is “that the scarfie stereotype positively defines the university, not undermines it”. Maddie Harris argues the affirmative, while Kurt Purdon argues the negative. Affirmative   When Kurt Purdon talks of thinking and not drinking, he’s stuck in a false Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 19

Posted 5:09am Thursday 11th August 2011 by Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date (courtesy of the lovely people at Toast), complete with a bar tab and positive vibez, in an attempt to prove that Dunedinites can date. The only catch: the love birds each divulge all the salacious details of their date in a short snappy article Read more...

Editorial - 19

Posted 11:55pm Monday 8th August 2011 by Editor

VSM: it’s all anyone can talk about. It’s been a somewhat lukewarm bore for a while, with everyone from Metiria Turei to Michael Woodhouse speculating that VSM wouldn’t pass before the election. But on Wednesday, when the final clause of the bill was discussed at the committee of the house Read more...

Diatribe - 19

Posted 11:48pm Monday 8th August 2011 by Albert Delorino

Cycling is, I believe, one of the greatest pleasures in life and I feel that more people should be on two wheels. But I digress already. I fear that the aforementioned pastime/hobby/transport is becoming a rarity in our great country, in part due to the mandatory bicycle helmet law. If you’ve seen a Read more...

Debatable - 19

Posted 11:42pm Monday 8th August 2011 by Jesse Wall and Olivia Norling

Debatable is written by the Otago University Debating Society, which meets for social debating every Tuesday at 7pm in the Commerce Building. This week’s motion is “That Feminism is Dead”. Jesse Wall argues the affirmative, while Olivia Norling argues the negative. Affirmative   Read more...

Editorial - 18

Posted 4:15am Thursday 4th August 2011 by Editor

X-Rated This week, we present our sex issue. Sex, if you hadn’t noticed, is pretty big; if you’re not having it, you’re talking about it. And if you’re not doing either of those, you’re probably thinking about it. Quite often at that, if the notorious seven seconds statistic is anything to go Read more...

Diatribe - 18

Posted 4:12am Thursday 4th August 2011 by Carrie Bradshaw

Timaru gynacologist Dr Albert Makary recently claimed that New Zealand women treat sex like “paddock mating”. We’re too promiscuous and what’s more, we’re “glamourising” it (God forbid we would make something rather enjoyable look fun). Instead, Makary thinks we should be stigmatizing sex, Read more...

Debatable - 18

Posted 4:28am Monday 1st August 2011 by Emily Hay and Maddie Harris

This week’s motion is “We should outlaw public displays of affection”. Emily Hay argues the affirmative, while Maddie Harris argues the negative. Affirmative The issue of public displays of affection, aka PDAs, is no longer about getting a room, it’s about getting some self respect. Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 17

Posted 4:19am Thursday 28th July 2011 by Ashton and Demi

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date (courtesy of the lovely people at Toast), complete with a bar tab and positive vibez, in an attempt to prove that Dunedinites can date. The only catch: the love birds each divulge all the salacious details of their date in a short snappy article Read more...

Editorial - 17

Posted 11:47pm Monday 25th July 2011 by Editor

ACT'S MOULDY POLICIES This week’s issue is our “culture” issue, hence the delightful petri dish complete with Critic-shaped bacteria on the cover (See ODT, we can make puns too. Even if they do imply rather negative things about our hygiene). The week before last, four politicians Read more...

Diatribe - 17

Posted 11:43pm Monday 25th July 2011 by Marjo Cantus

Foreword: I’m still pretty young to Dunedin and New Zealand. This diatribe is therefore the expression of my feelings as an outsider and a newbie to Dunedin’s student and cultural life. I come from a country where protesting in the streets is almost a national sport. You may have in mind the cliché Read more...

Debatable - 17

Posted 11:42pm Monday 25th July 2011 by Tiho Mijato and Basil Brazil

This week’s motion is “That Maori language should be a compulsory subject in schools”. Tiho Mijatov argues the affirmative, while Basil Brazil argues the negative. Affirmative I always feel a bit thick passing through New Zealand towns and having no clue what the Maori place names mean. Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 16

Posted 5:16am Monday 25th July 2011 by Jamie Hince and Kate Moss

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date. Jamie Hince   After signing up in the hopes of getting a night of free booze and some time off research, my hopes weren’t particularly high with regards to the company. Getting slightly lost on my way to Toast gave me a bit more Read more...

Editorial - 16

Posted 4:01am Monday 25th July 2011 by Editor

ON DA INTERWEBZ “Technology” is a fairly far-reaching theme. Perhaps it’s just that I’m somewhat of a technophobe who shies away from things with buttons and flashing lights, but the sheer magnitude of what counts as technology is overwhelming. Needless to say, it was hard to pick what Read more...

Diatribe - 16

Posted 3:59am Monday 25th July 2011 by Mary-Rose Wiklund

Learning to drive is not just about getting a handle on indicating and turning a wheel – it is a journey of self-discovery. In other words, you discover just how angry you can get at other people, and at strangers no less. Personally, there is a group of people somewhere between those who drive Read more...

Debatable - 16

Posted 3:55am Monday 25th July 2011 by Beau Murrah and Hannah Drury

This week’s motion is “that social networking stunts social skills.” Beau Murrah argues the affirmative while Hannah Drury argues the negative. Affirmative I have (and you likely have too) heard old people say things about social networking websites that sound like things probably said Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 15

Posted 12:08am Tuesday 12th July 2011 by Camilla and Charles

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date. Camilla I arrived at Toast fashionably late via a taxi van after consuming many glasses of wine, to find a near empty bar-but we filled it up. I entered Toast hopefully without my date noticing that I brought my entire flat with me. I Read more...

Editorial - 15

Posted 4:43am Monday 11th July 2011 by Editor

Welcome back! We hope you had a great break and all that jazz. It may have been a break, but hey, the world keeps spinning and boy, did a lot of things happen. OUSA’s very own “sex scandal”   Dan Stride’s very public resignation raised a number of issues surrounding privacy (see Read more...

Diatribe - 15

Posted 4:41am Monday 11th July 2011 by Nick Gavigan

On Wednesday the 1st of June on live television, Murray Deaker described a man working on a sheep farm as “working like a nigger”. I write this on the evening of Friday 3rd, just a few hours after the ‘professional media’ wrote its first online article on the events. Two days late. Cue Sky TV Read more...

Debatable - 15

Posted 4:38am Monday 11th July 2011 by Alec Dawson and Kurt Purdon

This week’s motion is “that insulation of Dunedin flats should be compulsory.” Alec Dawson argues the affirmative while Kurt Purdon argues the negative. Affirmative   Dunedin winters are relentlessly cold, dark and bleak. If you’re lucky enough to be living in a hall of Read more...

Summer Lovin' - 14

Posted 4:22am Monday 11th July 2011 by Charles and Diana

Critic sets up two lucky students on a blind date. Charles The hour drew nigh as I made my merry way to the tavern of Toaste Barre. Though my journey was long and arduous, I let neither bogle nor banshee nor goblin from the cave of UniColle prevent me from reaching my destination and Read more...

Editorial - 14

Posted 4:17am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Editor

I’M LEAVING ON AN AEROPLANE It’s the last Critic of the semester, and oh, what a semester it’s been. It started with an earthquake, which shook things up for a bit (sorry, I couldn’t help myself). Brash and Harawira fought it out, Geoghegan resigned, a fairly uninspiring national budget was Read more...

Diatribe - 14

Posted 4:16am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Hazel Green

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s the nation’s obsession with rugby. It’s an all-consuming obsession, one that some (namely Jim Flynn, God bless him), would say is bordering on the unhealthy. Expressing ambivalence/complete disinterest in our national sport is on par with treason. Say you Read more...