Archive

Soapbox - 13

Posted 8:39pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

For some reason, I'm not out with my flatmates. Even after four and a half months of living with them, I haven't told them that I'm gay. I'm out with nearly everyone else I know, but I haven't told the people I live with. Why?   To almost everyone I know, I identify as gay. Proudly. Read more...

The Sheet Shuffle - 13

Posted 8:35pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Raeven Geist-Deschamps

A Symphony of Queefs. In my younger years, I had this distinct illusion that sex was a clean, soft, velvety affair of veils, heavy panting, and moans. Little did I expect squishes and other noises. Let’s talk a little about queefs. Queefs are merely the fodder of farcical sex. Queefs are Read more...

The Conservatory - 13

Posted 8:33pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Edward Greig

The rise in tobacco excise tax will help to offset other tax cuts recently announced in the Budget. Simple enough, but is that really fair? Taxing one group of people, based on their personal choice to give themselves cancer, to enable the Government to take less from others?   It seems a Read more...

La Presidenta - 13

Posted 8:31pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Harriet Geoghegan

The first half of the year certainly has been a huge learning curve for me. As well as the big political things that have been going on, behind the scenes I have been rewriting OUSA’s strategic plan and working on some big internal changes.   Unfortunately it is only a one-year plan, Read more...

The Media and Me - 13

Posted 8:06pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Paul McMillan

Most don’t care to admit that the so-called ‘Top 40 songs’ or ‘New Zealand Top 40’ are not necessarily liked by anyone with a fully developed brain. For the most part they’re decided on by people who have yet to develop chest hair, let alone any intellectual acuity: the 13-and-unders. Those Read more...

Te Roopu Maori - 13

Posted 8:05pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

There is a considerable amount of evidence that Maori do not have the same level of oral health as non-Maori across all age groups. Oral health disparities such as access to care exist, and one way to address ethnic inequalities in NZ is through Maori oral health workforce development. The Read more...

The Green Finger - 13

Posted 8:04pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by J.R Holmes

The idea that you can fly around the world and offset your carbon emissions by buying trees is really quite lazy, short-sighted, narcissistic, and retarded. For starters, the trees are already there. Since you’re emitting more carbon, you will need more trees to act as a carbon sink. If Read more...

Num Nums - 13

Posted 8:01pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Tien-Yi Toh

Indian Summer (Carnegie Centre, 110 Moray Place) is my new favourite Indian restaurant. The cool floor-to-ceiling glass-windowed restaurant front gives the place a comfortable casual-chic feel, making it the kind of place that you could just pop in for quick, casual meal on a whim, but also where Read more...

Editorial - 13

Posted 7:50pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Ben Thomson

AN EDITORIAL ABOUT FACEBOOK.     Facebook rolled out yet another round of changes to its privacy settings last week, creating another blitz of reporting in the media. If it were a country, Facebook would be the third largest in the world behind China and India. The Read more...

Debatable - 13

Posted 7:49pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Nick Gavey and Oliver Dickie

Should We Force-feed Anorexics? Nick Gavey argues that we should; Oliver Dickie disagrees.     Nick: Anorexia nervosa is a serious mental illness, like depression or bipolar disorder. In most cases it can be treated with a combination of therapy and medication. But Read more...

Boy and Girl - 13

Posted 7:48pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Boy and Girl

Girl: My silly friend once tried to convince me that one-way (unrequited) love was the height of romance and the only true love because you get nothing from it. Now, I don’t know whether to class my crush as ‘unrequited’; I have no idea how he might feel if he Read more...

The Albums the world forgot - 13

Posted 7:45pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Stuart Dangerfield

Various Artists, Yodelling From the Mountains (Carinia Records, year unknown) When done well, a compilation is more than a mere collection of songs. A skilled compiler can arrange a series of tunes in such a way that the whole becomes much greater than the sum of its parts, whether they are Read more...

Top 5 - 12

Posted 4:32pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Richard Cheese

Top 5 Reasons Why I Should Get Paid To Write This Column Writing these columns is hard work, you know. First I have to get drunk. Then I have write some poorly constructed sentences with immature statements, which some call ‘humour’. Then I have to research shit sometimes. Life is Read more...

Soapbox - 12

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Tom Taylor

Our Western fixation with monetary value has skyrocketed over the past few decades. By no means am I saying money is entirely a bad thing –it’s a tool, of course. What I am getting at is that this very obsession is screwing us over. Let’s take the University as an example. It’s no Read more...

The Sheet Shuffle - 12

Posted 4:30pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Raeven Geist-Deschamps

They Tell Me You Like Sex.     There’s this guy. He sent it like three orgies on the fourth of July: sparkles, banners, and whole lot of pheromones. Alfred Kinsey collected thousands of interviews for both Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in Read more...

The Conservatory - 12

Posted 4:28pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Edward Greig

Phil Goff is not doing his rather sorry image any favours in his recent proclamations on GST and tax. Ahead of the Budget, Goff was aiming to grasp a section of public opinion and set out what should be a viable and sensible alternative to the Government budget. Unfortunately, he did nothing Read more...

La Presidenta - 12

Posted 4:25pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Harriet Geoghegan

The week before last, OUSA ran its first Student General Meeting. SGMs are a constitutional requirement that are currently necessary to allow OUSA to continue operating. However, if you were re-creating OUSA from scratch, you would have to be a complete muppet to come up with a process this stupid Read more...

The Media and Me - 12

Posted 4:06pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Paul McMillan

Let’s talk about Facebook, everybody. Please have a seat. People are here because they care about you and they want you to know that they’re concerned for your well-being. This is what a Facebook intervention may look like; and, judging by the profusion of glowing blue screens that Read more...

Te Roopu Maori - 12

Posted 4:05pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

Kia ora koutou, especially our tauira rata. We are Te Oranga ki Otakou, the Maori Medical Students’ Association. As you may have read over the last few weeks, the different Maori roopu have been introducing themselves to you, and now it’s our turn. Our Komiti for 2010 Kirsten Taplin – Read more...

The Green Finger - 12

Posted 4:03pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Dominic Szeker

You’ve got your haves and your have-nots. I’m a have, you’re a have. But what’s to be done about all these bloody have-nots, eh? Surely something better than sitting around drinking champagne and talking socialism. And perhaps, just perhaps, the misguided free-market principles that inform National Read more...

Boy and Girl - 12

Posted 4:02pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Boy and Girl

Girl:   What with the corporeally sober state I’ve been in lately, I took an interest in matters of spiritual concern and headed to a talk by an American rabbi on mysticism in the Abrahamic faiths. Aside from my interest in mysticism in general, I have always held the Jewish Read more...

Num Nums - 12

Posted 4:00pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Tien-Yi Toh

With the exams around the corner, I thought I would share a few really easy recipes that you can whip up when you need a 20–30 minute break from studying. These dishes keep relatively well so if you make enough to last a few meals, you will always have some proper food in the fridge when Read more...

Editorial - 12

Posted 3:51pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Ben Thomson

The Government was announcing the 2010 Budget as we were going to print last week. Very inconsiderate. It meant we had to do our own analysis and not wait to see what the ODT did for us the next day. Taxing.   I woke up on Budget Thursday to mail from Inland Revenue. After four Read more...

Debatable - 12

Posted 3:50pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Matt Lynch and Jeremy Stewart

Should We Chemically Castrate Sex Offenders? Matt Lynch argues that we should; Jeremy Stewart disagrees.     Matt:  There is a 47 percent recidivism rate amongst sex offenders in New Zealand. This is an abhorrent statistic to tolerate while a viable solution to Read more...

The Albums the world forgot - 12

Posted 3:43pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Stuart Dangerfield

Vanilla Ice, Hard To Swallow (1998, Republic)     What do you do when you’ve suddenly become the biggest hip-hop star in the world? This was the problem faced by Rob Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, after the release of his 1990 breakthrough single ‘Ice Ice Read more...

Top 5 - 11

Posted 3:37pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Richard Cheese

Top 5 Ways To Score A Fresher The way to a woman’s heart is long and arduous. Fresher girls are no different. Since this is the best and only advice column in Critic, I thought I’d share a guide on scoring a fresher.   5. Get to know her: If you’re even going to Read more...

Smile, You’re on Overheard @ Uni of Otago!

Posted 3:36pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

I have to admit it – I like following trends as much as I like following Justin Bieber on Twitter. I’m a complete sheep. A tights-as pants-wearing, bubble tea-drinking, dubstep-listening sheep. I even sort of wish I was an Aucklander. They are cool. They set trends for me to follow! But the Read more...

The Sheet Shuffle - 11

Posted 3:35pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Raeven Geist-Deschamps

“I just came so easily from sex I never thought I needed a vibrator” If I were a bar, I’d be in a small dark alley, my bartenders would wear scarves, and I wouldn’t be popular on Tuesdays. If Peaches and Cream (112 St Andrew Street) were a person, it would have blonde hair, show Read more...

The Conservatory - 11

Posted 3:34pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Edward Greig

There is a rather serious problem in being a socialist. If you want any credibility, then you should stand up for what you believe in. Unfortunately for socialists, it is rather easy to do this. They can donate extra money to the Government. They can stop using private schools and hospitals. Read more...

The Media and Me - 11

Posted 3:09pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Paul McMillan

I hate to get petty and single particular advertisements out for excoriation, but ... well, I don’t have an excuse. I’m just going to. I probably should have brought this up during the Health Issue, but all these hand sanitizer ads are getting ridiculous. ng the Health Issue, but all these Read more...

Te Roopu Maori - 11

Posted 3:07pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

Kia ora nga Tauira o nga hau e wha, We are Te Roopu Whakakaha Tinana, commonly known as the Physical Education Maori Association (PEMA) We are a student-led association and in our first year of establishment. Our main objective is to encourage the academic excellence of Maori Physical Read more...

The Green Finger - 11

Posted 3:06pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Dominic Szeker

Well, looks like the Gulf of Mexico is fucked. Oopsy daisy. Not surprising, though – it’s just business as usual. Last month an explosion savaged the Deepwater Horizon rig and opened up the ocean basin to thousands after thousands after thousands of tonnes of toxic ooze. BP, you suck. As Read more...

Editorial - 11

Posted 2:56pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Ben Thomson

I hate the term ‘silent majority’ – especially when used as justification for hating on some minority. But at university, minorities have it made. Here, the silent majority are students and the minority are attendees of Student General Meetings. The meetings held about twice a year to set the Read more...

Debatable - 11

Posted 2:55pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Harry Misslbrook and Anicia

Should parents be held responsible for the criminal behaviour of their children? Harry Misslbrook argues that they should; Anicia disagrees. Harry: I’m going to convince you that parents should be made legally responsible for their children’s criminal behaviour. I Read more...

Boy and Girl - 11

Posted 2:54pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Boy and Girl

“Girl, I have no passion for scandal. In fact, I feel decidedly unenthusiastic about putting my ego out there, as is our custom.” – Boy. irl:  For different reasons both Boy and I have been going through patches of life in which checking out the opposite sex, or even partying, have Read more...

The Albums the world forgot - 11

Posted 2:48pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Stuart Dangerfield

Glay, Unity Roots & Family, Away (2002, Pony Canyon) Everyone in the music business hopes to make it big someday; to have their face on the cover of The Rolling Stones magazine and their songs played on More FM. But can fame bring you true happiness? Try asking Japanese pop supergroup Glay. In Read more...

Top 5 - 10

Posted 2:46pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Richard Cheese

Top 5 Ways To Keep Warm During Winter     Goodness me, it is starting to get a wee bit cold! Being the most factual column in Critic, I thought I’d share some tips of how to get by this winter.   5. Drink More: If it works for the Russians, it can sure as hell Read more...

Soapbox - 10

Posted 2:44pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

Those of you who have done or are doing Humanities degrees will probably be well-aware of the scorn you have to face telling people, especially older relatives, about your degree, your areas of interest, and your future plans. This scorn, though repeated many times, never pierced my Read more...

The Sheet Shuffle - 10

Posted 2:42pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Raeven Geist-Deschamps

Libidinous Tendencies and the Essay Wall     My creativity and my libido have gone hand in hand: they’ve met the increase in work by starkly plummeting. Thus I’ll engage my gender bias and my whiskey on ice and consider a few topical questions. In answer to Read more...

The Conservatory - 10

Posted 2:41pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Edward Greig

Increasing the drinking age is nothing more than a nanny-state, broad-brush approach that will penalise the many for the indiscretions of the few. Alcohol is consumed in large quantities by many people, and it can cause a lot of harm. There is no doubt that the Law Commission report on alcohol Read more...

La Presidenta - 10

Posted 2:39pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Harriet Geoghegan

The first Student General Meeting (SGM) of 2010 is going to be held this Thursday at 1pm on the OUSA Lawn. SGMs are a pretty archaic process, though. The views of 20 000+ students are meant to be adequately expressed by a village-style vote by whoever doesn’t have class and is available Read more...

The Media and Me - 10

Posted 2:15pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Paul McMillan

Who the hell is Justin Bieber? I’m not even going to take the time to find out whether I’m spelling his name right. More importantly, why would 3 News start their report of the day's events by investigating the frenzy and hysteria around a musical spawn of Satan entering the country? The Read more...

Te Roopu Maori - 10

Posted 2:14pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Critic

e mihi tenei ki nga akonga Maori o Otago, he mihi nui hoki ki nga akonga e mahi ana i te Tohu Paetahi Tauhokohoko! Kia Ora to all our Maori students at Otago, in particular those who study Commerce, who have come from all over Aotearoa, both first-year and returning students! This year we Read more...

The Green Finger - 10

Posted 2:13pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Marnie Walters

Before the last election, Key said that “victims of crime have been neglected for too long. It’s time we gave them the support they deserve.” It sounded good; I kind of get why people voted for that. What he didn’t mention, unfortunately, was just the kind of support victims deserved.   Read more...

Num Nums - 10

Posted 2:11pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Tien-Yi Toh

At just over two months old, five0nine (7 Frederick St) is probably the freshest face (in more ways than one) in the Dunedin café scene. Specialising in Taiwanese bubble tea, a sweet, flavoured tea-based drink, five0nine offers a pleasant alternative to the usual coffee/tea options at other Read more...

Editorial - 10

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Ben Thomson

It’s graduation time at University. Everyone who finished up at the end of last year leaves their high-paying jobs up north and rolls into town for the weekend for one last blowout in Dunedin. Then it’s back to work on Monday. Most of them only left after exams last November, but it is Read more...

Debatable - 10

Posted 1:57pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Alec Dawson and Kurt Purdon

Is Free Trade Preferable to Development Aid? Alec Dawson argues that it is; Kurt Purdon disagrees.     Alec: Our society is hypocritical. We seem to think it is okay to provide endless barriers to trade, protecting our own businesses and citizens at the expense of Read more...

Boy and Girl - 10

Posted 1:56pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Boy and Girl

Pop Quiz Online.     Boy: question 1: how often do you check your breasts out in public? Girl: umm, not very often, hardly at all  Girl: i mean, unless there’s a mirror or a window reflection   Boy: or, unless, you're looking down your own top! 12:18 Read more...

The Albums the world forgot - 10

Posted 1:48pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Stuart Dangerfield

Graham Turner, Melodies For Millions: A Tribute to Kenny G (2003, Luxury Multimedia Ltd.) Sometimes a musician affects you so strongly, so intensely – indeed, penetrates your soul so deeply – that you feel you must pay tribute to them. This is clearly the way Graham Turner Read more...

Top 5 - 09

Posted 1:44pm Sunday 11th July 2010 by Richard Cheese

Top 5 Reasons Why American Football Is Much, Much Better Than Rugby Jock Phillips, a New Zealand, historian wrote that rugby was played by colonial New Zealand men for the intimacy of physical touch that their lonely lives lacked. That’s a bit awkward for the rugby boys – Read more...