Archive

Most Bathrooms on Campus Now Have Sanitary Bins

Posted 11:18pm Sunday 23rd May 2021 by Fox Meyer

The Uni has improved its provision of sanitary bins, with bins now available in most bathrooms on campus. There has been an increase of 254 sanitary bins on campus (not including residential colleges) since 2018. However, in men’s bathrooms, sanitary bins are only present in the accessible Read more...

GUEST EDITORIAL: Menstruation is non-binary, period.

Posted 11:12pm Sunday 23rd May 2021 by Jay Bailey

As a transgender person who was assigned ‘female’ at birth (AFAB), menstruation is a funky topic for me. My body’s feminine properties constantly remind me that I exist in a meat shell which doesn’t quite fit with my perception of myself. But my body is not as clearly binary Read more...

Shosha Has Stopped Selling Cream Canisters

Posted 1:00pm Monday 17th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

16 May 2021 will go down in history as the day that Shosha stopped selling cream canisters. If you’ve been to Shosha recently, you might have noticed signs indicating that they would not be selling cream canisters from 16 May. “It has come to our attention that some customers have Read more...

OUSA Bore Students with Referendum Questions

Posted 4:08pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Sean Gourley

In an attempt to send student engagement to an all-time low, OUSA has set their semesterly referendum questions to the most boring issues possible. There are only three engaging questions from the total ten questions provided. They are: “8. Should the University have the power to Read more...

First Ever Arts Ball A Success

Posted 4:06pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

The first ever Arts Ball at Otago took place in the Otago Museum on May 8 hosted by the School of Arts Students Society (SASS). Students who attended reckoned it was good, even though there was an inordinately high ratio of Doc Martens.  Allie Hawksworth, President of SASS, was involved in Read more...

Chatime At Uni Delayed

Posted 4:03pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

When Critic announced in mid-February that a Chatime franchise would be opening inside the old Archway Shop after Easter, there was much hype among the student population. However, we’re now over a month after Easter (which was April 4, just to save you the Google search) and we’ve got Read more...

New Baked Potato Takeaway Outlet Opening In Dunedin

Posted 3:59pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Denzel Chung

A new takeaway outlet will soon be opening on George Street, dedicated to that unsung hero of foods: Baked potatoes.  Facebook and Instagram pages for Patate were launched last Thursday, with owner Aysu Shahin announcing they will “open very soon” at 420 George Street (nice), Read more...

There Is A Decomposing Lobster on Great King Street

Posted 3:58pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Asia Martusia King

Around three weeks ago, a lobster appeared on Great King Street.  Annabelle, a resident of Great King Street, was leaving her flat one morning when she started smelling “the salty sea air”. “I thought it was odd because you usually smell either exhaust or Maccas,” she Read more...

Uni Begs Council to Actually Do Tertiary Precinct Upgrade

Posted 3:55pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

The DCC stood remarkably stone-faced last week as the University effectively got on their knees and begged for them to stop taking infrastructure funding away from the tertiary precinct.  The DCC has delayed the tertiary precinct upgrade. The plan has gone from $20 million over the next few Read more...

Ooh Look How Fancy OUSA Are, Now They Have An Advisory Board

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

OUSA are paying some fancy businesspeople to help them make commercial decisions on a newly created Advisory Board. The Board will meet bimonthly with OUSA to discuss commercial decisions and the direction of OUSA, as well as keeping in regular contact with the Exec and the CEO. There will be up Read more...

Students Ignored at Parliamentary Inquiry into Student Accommodation

Posted 3:50pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Denzel Chung

The final report of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Student Accommodation, meant to uphold standards at halls, has been slammed by the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), with President Andrew Lessells claiming it “ignores the voice of students.” The Inquiry was Read more...

Te Ao Māori Becomes Compulsory In Law Degrees

Posted 3:47pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

Tikanga and te ao Māori will now be taught in all of the core papers of a law degree, after a unanimous vote on Friday 7 May by the Council of Legal Education. The Council of Legal Education sets the requirements for all LLB courses in Aotearoa.  President of Te Roopū Whai Read more...

Government Providing 400 MIQ Spots for International Students in June

Posted 3:45pm Sunday 16th May 2021 by Elliot Weir

More international students will be able to come to Otago Uni from June, with 400 spots in MIQ set aside for international students.  The New Zealand International Students’ Association welcomed the news and said that the “lack of MIQ spaces has been a long-standing problem for Read more...

Manager “Oblivious” to Supermarket Workers’ Concerns Following Stabbing

Posted 2:41pm Tuesday 11th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

Clarification: the photo above this article is not an indication of which supermarket is involved. Rather than offering support to employees after yesterday’s stabbing at Countdown, another Dunedin supermarket asked workers for extra shifts because the supermarket would be Read more...

Consequences of Bitcoin Debated

Posted 3:02pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Quintin Jane

You can buy a Tesla with it, and you can evade the feds with it, but recent reports from Cambridge University show that bitcoin mining consumes more power than the entire country Argentina, and accounts for nearly 1% of global power consumption. Actual, physical mining accounts for 4–7% of Read more...

There’s Asbestos in the Biochem Building

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

A routine story about the University proactively clearing away asbestos from an old building as part of an upgrade took an unexpected turn when the University sent mixed messages.  An earlier statement sent to Critic Te Arohi said that only the safer, “non-friable” form of Read more...

Only 1% of Uni Students Don’t Consume Caffeine

Posted 2:53pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Fox Meyer

A new Massey study circulated by prominent science publisher MDPI found that nearly every single New Zealand tertiary student consumes caffeine on a near-daily basis. Caffeine was most commonly consumed as energy drinks, coffee, tea, or chocolate. The real news here is that 1% of students somehow Read more...

Uni Wants Some New Rules, OUSA Says “Mmmm idk about that”

Posted 2:50pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Fox Meyer

OUSA pointed out a fuckton of problems with the proposed changes to the Code of Conduct in a 20-page submission to the University. The Uni is updating its Code of Conduct and received public submissions on the proposal until 7 May.  The very first thing that the Exec said in their submission Read more...

Fire Shuts Down Lectures

Posted 2:47pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

The dreary walk into University up Union St East was made a little more exciting on Wednesday morning, with the already scaffolding-covered College of Education Auditorium surrounded by four fire engines responding to the sight of smoke. According to a University spokesperson, a “small, Read more...

Samoan Students On Why Their Country is Ready for Change

Posted 2:45pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Erin Gourley

The Samoan election was in a deadlock between a new opposition party, FAST, and the current governing party, HRPP. Another seat was added to break the deadlock, but it’s not clear whether that was legal, and the Head of State has recently called for a fresh election, but it’s not clear Read more...

“Farewell After 45 Years, Here, Have a Coffee and a Christmas Voucher”

Posted 2:42pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Denzel Chung

Just two months after asking for “a bit of respect, a bit of courtesy” from her workplace of 45 years, Sue Loan who previously co-ordinated delivery of newspapers across Dunedin, received a 15 minute coffee break and two New World vouchers left over from Christmas.  “We are Read more...

“Democracy is Dead”

Posted 2:38pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Fox Meyer

Sign Up Club’s 30 April OUSA SGM ended not with a bang, but a fizzle. The only motion to pass was an increase in pay for ex-officio positions at OUSA. This raised the pay for the Te Roopū Māori Tumuaki Karamea Pēwhairangi and Pasifika Students Association’s President Read more...

“Where Them Students At? Students At?” Ask Protesters

Posted 2:34pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Denzel Chung

May 1 saw two protests happening in the Octagon simultaneously, with organisers lamenting a lack of student activism in a city once known for rowdy student-led protests.  The annual J Day protest, organised by the Ōtepoti Cannabis Collective, was designed to continue pushing for Read more...

Students Targeted With Anti-Vax Propaganda

Posted 2:29pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Fox Meyer

On Thursday 6 May, studentville was bombarded with flyers full of bullshit about the Covid vaccine. The flyers could be found on Castle Street, George Street, and Queen Street.  They were created by the anti-vax group “Voices for Freedom”, founded by three “passionate Kiwi Read more...

Exchanges To Aus Starting Next Semester

Posted 2:24pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Fox Meyer

Your Tinder pool will finally increase past 69 people next semester, as students will be able to jump back and forth across the ditch on exchange. Danielle Yamamoto Kerr told Critic that Otago and its Aussie partner universities will resume the exchanges in the second semester after several Read more...

Admin Job Losses Actually Led to Larger Departments

Posted 2:21pm Sunday 9th May 2021 by Denzel Chung

The University initiative which cut 160 support staff jobs for “efficiency” has led to the hiring of at least 170 full-time equivalent staff to replace them. The Support Services Review (SSR) was implemented by then Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne, and basically involved yeeting many Read more...

Gigs Suffer From Noise Complaints

Posted 10:13pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Denzel Chung

Local musicians and venue owners are pushing the DCC to stop noise complaints “killing live music,” after a folk gig at Dog With Two Tails was shut down because noise control could “hear it from a carpark.” As if that wasn’t the whole point. Dave Bennett was sound Read more...

Students Really Suck At Returning Library Books On Time

Posted 5:10pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

I have a confession to make. I’m a criminal. My $9 library fine (for a second-year psychology textbook, if you must know) is now over a year overdue and contributes to precisely 0.39% of the $2321.20 in library fines incurred by Uni and Polytech students. Campus Watch, you know where to find Read more...

Departments Inconsistent on Disability Note-taking Service

Posted 5:06pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Eileen Corcoran

750 students across the university receive lecture notes from peer note-takers, but inconsistencies across departments are still a barrier for some students with learning disabilities. Disability Information and Support provides a range of assistance to around 1500 students each year, half of Read more...

Meat-Free Mondays Means More Mindfulness Of Mother Nature

Posted 5:02pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

Anyone who relies on Cafe Albany for their daily caffeine hit may have recently noticed a lower quantity of meat being sold on Mondays. This is part of a new University sustainability initiative. According to Campus and Collegiate Life Services Director James Lindsay, Cafe Albany “started Read more...

Cryptocurrency Connoisseurs Create Club

Posted 4:58pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Fox Meyer

A new OUSA-affiliated club wants to spread the word about Bitcoin and all the other cryptocurrencies that Critic Te Arohi doesn’t know the name of, but presumably exist. Campbell Miller and his flatmate started the crypto club this year to fill a void they saw in the club scene. “I Read more...

Otago Students Raise Over $100k During Relay For Life

Posted 4:55pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

In an incredible effort unmatched by any other university in the country, Otago students raised over $100,00 for the Cancer Society (the disease, not the star sign). Otago is also the only Uni to have its own separate Relay event. We may be crippling alcoholics every other week, but we know what Read more...

Campus Queer Space Faces More Hurdles

Posted 4:51pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Elliot Weir

A dedicated queer space on campus has been in the works since 2018 and, more than two years down the track, is still facing issues.  As previously reported by Critic, the space was meant to open on the first floor of the University Union building near the Terrace Lounge by the end of April. Read more...

Sign Up Club SGM Happened But We Wrote This Before Then

Posted 4:48pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Fox Meyer

Sign Up Club’s SGM will have been completed by the time you read this. Critic goes to print on Thursday night, and the SGM is on Friday, so we can only speculate as to what happened. Here’s our best guess as to how things went down last Friday. The SGM, held at 2.00pm, not 5.00pm Read more...

OUSA Ask City Council To Change Their Ten Year Plan

Posted 4:39pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Fox Meyer

The DCC’s draft for their 2021–2031 plan is underway, and OUSA want the DCC to significantly change it. After listening to what students said, OUSA told the city council to do something. Their suggestions are 15 pages long, and worded in impenetrable bureaucrat-speak. It’s not Read more...

Burglar Allegedly Cut Holes in Curtains to Peep

Posted 4:24pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Susana Jones

Police asked students on Dundas Street and Harbour Terrace to check their curtains for holes, after the arrest of a 32-year-old burglar who allegedly entered houses to cut peepholes in curtains.  A police spokesperson said that “these offences took place in the student area and some of Read more...

OUSA ANZAC Service Well-Attended

Posted 4:13pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Denzel Chung

Around 500 people of all ages attended OUSA’s ANZAC Day service, the first to be held on campus since 2019.  Held in conjunction with Te Roopū Māori and the University, the service was held in the Main Common Room, but attendee numbers meant the crowd ended up overflowing out Read more...

Tumuaki Resigns From UCSA In Protest

Posted 4:04pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Erin Gourley

The Tumuaki of Te Akatoki Māori Students’ Association at the University of Canterbury resigned from UCSA last week, criticising UCSA’s approach to Māori students.  “Not one more minute will we be undervalued,” Rosa Hibbert-Schooner wrote in a letter, which Read more...

What Ramadan Means to Muslim Students at Otago

Posted 3:57pm Sunday 2nd May 2021 by Aiman Amerul Muner

Ramadan is here from 12 April to 12 May. Muslim students here in Dunedin observe the Islamic holy month by fasting from dawn and congregating together at sunset to pray and share a meal.  This year, the University of Otago Muslim Students' Association (MUSA) is organising daily Iftars Read more...

SOULS Raises $13000 for Relay for Life

Posted 2:30pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

Law students have raised over $13,000 in their Relay for Life campaign, making them the largest contributor in the Otago region. The large amount of money has been made possible thanks to a collaboration between all the representative groups of law students. SOULS, Pride in Law Otago, Otago Asian Read more...

Third of Anatomy Class Fails Exam On Their Own Bodies

Posted 2:26pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

Anatomy students are mad after a third of students in the ANAT331 class failed a practical examination. Nearly four times as many students failed than got above 80%. The average grade for the assessment was 56.4%, or a C. One student achieved an A+. Only ten others achieved either an A or an Read more...

Member Removed from OUSA Club For Sexual Misconduct

Posted 2:24pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

A club member was expelled from a club on Monday 19 April, in the first use of OUSA’s new Complaints and Sexual Misconduct Policy. OUSA voted to “indefinitely suspend” the club member, though the full story is not public. But sexual misconduct is the ground for “indefinite Read more...

Facebook Threatens Democracy

Posted 1:51pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

Sign-Up Club has successfully petitioned for OUSA to host another SGM, which will take place on Friday 30 April at 5pm in the Main Common Room.  “SUC is giving the power back to the people,” said the group. SUC motions that OUSA:  Host another Hyde party this Read more...

Rents to Rise Along With Landlord Saltiness

Posted 1:41pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

Recent tax changes for investment properties have landlords and OUSA agreeing on one thing: Rent increases are “inevitable”. With landlords arguing tax changes have forced their hand, OUSA is now exploring ways they can respond at both a local and national level. David Seymour, ACT Read more...

University and OUSA Oppose Delay to Tertiary Precinct Upgrade

Posted 1:37pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

The University and OUSA oppose the DCC’s proposal to delay the Tertiary Precinct Upgrade into the 2030s. In the 2021–2031 ten year plan, the DCC propose to push the Upgrade, originally scheduled to begin in 2021, into the 2030s. Both the University and OUSA confirmed that they oppose Read more...

More than 300 People Jumped the Hyde Fence

Posted 1:30pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

Increased ticket prices led many students to try to get in the free way. Most were caught, many were injured, but some were successful. Critic spoke to one such jumper. Jamie* gave us the lowdown on how to get into the hoedown.  “The key is to actually know the security Read more...

Cutlers Already Offering 2022 Castle St Leases

Posted 1:15pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

Cutlers is the first real estate company to release a flat list for Castle Street this year. For many upcoming flatters, it’s the same shit, different year. A group of this year’s freshers, having declared themselves besties for life just a few weeks into the year, will sign a flat Read more...

Campus Awash In Mysterious Bad Smell

Posted 1:10pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

A smell descended on campus last week. Students described the smell as “fishy”, “wet mildew”, “wet dog”, “an old wet towel”, “a musty undertone”, and “like a cross between something decomposing and those sheep trucks that go past Read more...

OUSA Motions Pass in Long SGM

Posted 1:07pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

The Exec were able to validate their Covid-related constitutional breaches and raise their own pay at the SGM last Wednesday. The SGM met quorum, with over 100 students showing up. The Exec’s pay rise generated discussion, because the OUSA President’s pay was set to go up by $8000 Read more...

“Good Vibes” At Netsky-Ousa-Te Roōpu Māori Hui

Posted 12:59pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

The hui with DJ Netsky took place on Wednesday 21 April. OUSA President Michaela Waite-Harvey said the hui with Belgian DJ Netsky and Te Roōpu Māori went well, with “good vibes only” ahead of his concert last Thursday at Union Hall.  “A decent group,” Read more...

Student Loses $750 at Casino After Hyde

Posted 12:56pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Sean Gourley

An Otago student managed to lose $750 within half an hour at the roulette tables at Grand Casino (previously Dunedin Casino) on the evening of the Hyde Street Party.  Fresh out of his Teletubby costume, Chip* was having a jug at the Bog before his mate had the bright idea of going to the Read more...

Building Sparks Animal Experiment Debate

Posted 12:46pm Monday 26th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

The opening of the University’s new multi-million dollar animal testing centre, the Eccles Building, has sparked debate between animal activists and students involved in animal experiments. Students involved in animal experiments have pushed back against animal welfare activists, arguing Read more...

OPINION: It's Time We Woke Up

Posted 4:44pm Monday 19th April 2021 by Kate Pitches

Yeah, we fucked up. Our planet’s trashed.  It’s 4am. We’re all in denial stumbling around in the dark. The drinks have worn off but we’re pretending they haven’t so that we don’t have to face reality yet.  I was at the climate strike last weekend Read more...

The George Street Dots Revisited

Posted 10:01pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Hannah Johns

Last year, the DCC painted dots on George Street to create a pedestrian-friendly space. A year on, the dots are fading away. Hannah Johns spoke to Aaron Hawkins about the dots and discovered that there are no plans to repaint them. Hannah: I’ve become very fond of the dots, every time I Read more...

Someone Shat in the Zoo

Posted 9:57pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

Title says it all. Great job, fuckhead. Otago’s new Most Wanted is the man who shat in The Zoo at the rugby on 10 April. Described as “slender, blonde, curly-haired and unashamed”, this man is assumed to be highly dangerous and not to be confronted by the public.  Public Read more...

University Losing Money, Money, Money on Colleges During 2020

Posted 9:55pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

University halls of residence lost a cool $690,000 in 2020, due to the Covid lockdown. Due to 2020 being the shitshow that it was, the Uni wasn’t quite able to cover all of their hall costs, and have since increased their intake of first-years in accommodation for this year. This is either Read more...

Building Students’ Dream New Vice-Chancellor

Posted 9:51pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

With the gaping void left in our hearts by the departure of beloved Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne, students have been left in the lurch when it comes to someone to blame for our next round of department cuts. Critic spent far too much time talking to students about their perfect potential Read more...

Shocking: Students Don’t Engage With Student Politics

Posted 9:48pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Runze Liu

Despite efforts by OUSA, students continue to be indifferent towards its governance. OUSA leaders are tasked with making policy to ensure everything runs smoothly. This includes event planning, keeping the Uni from screwing students over, and providing safe(r) intoxication Read more...

Science Library Third Floor Converted to Offices

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Quintin Jane

The third floor of the Uni’s Science Library has been stripped of books and is set to become office spaces for the Sciences Divisional Board i.e. the people who run the Science programmes at Otago.  According to Campus Development Division Director Tanya Syddal, the area is to be fit Read more...

India Singled Out in Travel Ban

Posted 9:37pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

Representatives of international students in New Zealand have spoken out against the India Travel ban. India was singled out in the sudden ban, which provisionally lasts from April 11 to April 38. Tithi Gandhi, Otago Indian Students Association’s (OISA) Welfare & Equity Representative, Read more...

Why the Hyde Themes Were Removed From Event Page

Posted 9:32pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

The list of Hyde themes was taken down from the event page after students raised concerns that some of the themes were offensive and inappropriate. In particular, students who spoke to Critic were concerned about the “Travellers and Gypsies” theme.  “It was a bit annoying Read more...

Clubs Might Get Funding for Food Instead of Just Sports

Posted 9:28pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

OUSA is proposing to remove the divide between sports and cultural clubs at its upcoming Student General Meeting (SGM). Motion number five on the agenda is “that the Grants Policy be expanded to include some grants for food”. Academic and cultural clubs are pissed about the current Read more...

DCC Denies Use of Sonic Weapon

Posted 9:23pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Asia Martusia King

There is a mosquito device in Dunedin’s Queens Gardens, but a DCC Parks Officer said they were “not aware” of the device’s existence. The so called ‘mosquito device’ installed in Queens Garden emits ultra-high frequency blasts, which are normally detectable Read more...

Students Get COVID Vax

Posted 9:19pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

Students in health professionals doing their placements are starting to get the COVID vaccine. The Health Sciences Pro Vice Chancellor (PVC) reached out to students over email. The email was a call for anyone about to start work in a frontline medical placement to book an appointment for their Read more...

The Truth About the OUSA SGM

Posted 9:13pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

OUSA is holding an SGM (Student General Meeting) this week. OUSA have been advertising the SGM as the Executive doing Executive things in public because they need to do it once a year. However, what the Exec haven’t made particularly clear or easy to find is that any member of OUSA (so, Read more...

University Wants A New COC

Posted 9:09pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

For the first time in 10 years, the University has proposed changes to the Code of Student Conduct and the Discipline Statute. The proposed additions include specific prohibitions for sexual misconduct, online harassment and initiations. The Uni is proposing to have the power to force who breach Read more...

DCC Proposing to Delay Tertiary Precinct Upgrade

Posted 9:01pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

The DCC’s draft ten year plan for 2021-2032 proposes to delay the tertiary precinct upgrade into the 2030s. In 2017, the DCC voted to spend $20 million during the 2018-2028 period upgrading the Tertiary Precinct. The plan would upgrade the streets with street art and bike lanes, to create Read more...

Thousands Protest About Climate Inaction

Posted 8:51pm Sunday 18th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

Around 1,500 people — ranging from high-schoolers to pensioners — marched from the Dental School to the Octagon on April 9th, Ōtepoti’s contribution to the nationwide School Strike 4 Climate (SS4C). Despite the Covid-19 lockdown forcing the cancellation of last year’s Read more...

Otago Tutors and Demonstrators Have Formed a “Network”

Posted 10:30pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

Tutors and demonstrators at Otago Uni have formed a network aimed at getting better, and more consistent, pay rates. Spokesperson for the Otago Tutors and Demonstrators Network, Joshua James, said that the Network was started because “we've heard anecdotally many breaches of employment Read more...

Breathas Pretend to be Reporters to Watch Themselves Get Tackled on CCTV

Posted 10:24pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

"Hello, I’m Joseph Fare from the Critic magazine and we would like to know if we could possibly have the cctv recordings of the smoking area where a couple people were seen jumping the fence and getting taken out by the bouncers. We’d like to make a story on the Read more...

Beerfest For JAFAs Went Well

Posted 10:19pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

The Auckland Beerfest run by OUSA went well. “We think there’s about 3,600 people here,” said OUSA Events Manager Jason. He spoke over a background of rambling guitar and slurred conversations. “OUSA gets some funding from the uni, but we are constantly having to find new Read more...

Almost Half of Hyde Lottery Winners Don’t Follow Through

Posted 10:13pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

802 students did not claim Hyde tickets in the most recent lottery, with work and money stopping many from going.  OUSA Events and Operations Venues Manager Jason Schroeder said that: “Overall there were 4,694 lottery registrations. The initial lottery returned 1,922 winners. Not all Read more...

Hyde Resident Concerned About Party’s Music Funding

Posted 10:07pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Erin Gourley

A Hyde resident was surprised to discover that OUSA does not fund the music or staging at the Hyde Street Party. Organising the DJs and music is left up to the residents. “Imagine the party without music,” Amelia said. “I was astounded.” OUSA’s CEO, Debbie Downs, Read more...

Otago University Stops Funding The Conversation

Posted 10:01pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Quintin Jane

The University of Otago has stopped funding academic publication The Conversation as part of pandemic-era budget cuts. Every other University in New Zealand currently funds the service, according to logos displayed on the publication’s website. The Conversation, launched in 2011, is an open Read more...

David Seymour Shoots Nerf Guns, Discusses Student Life

Posted 9:55pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Fox Meyer

David Seymour was on campus, and in an exclusive interview with Critic he revealed that he does not know how long six inches is.  When asked how many beer cans tall he believed himself to be, David did some quick maths based on the assumption that a can of beer was “about six inches Read more...

Myanmar Fundraiser Yeeted From Campus Then Promptly Un-Yeeted

Posted 9:48pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

The University initially refused to allow an on-campus food fundraiser for activists in Myanmar, but reversed its decision after a “strongly-worded email” from OUSA President Michaela Waite-Harvey. The fundraising Burmese students were shocked when Property Services said their food Read more...

Goodbye, Harlene

Posted 9:35pm Saturday 10th April 2021 by Denzel Chung

It was a Friday afternoon that no human alive will ever forget. 19 March 2021, the day that Great and Glorious Vice-Chancellor Doctor Professor Vada Harlene Hayne ONZM BA MS PhD left our beloved University. Temperatures plunged as the Sun hid its face in sorrow. Angels wept in the skies up above. Read more...

Studylink: Cancer Recovery Not a Valid Reason for Part-time Study

Posted 3:43pm Thursday 1st April 2021 by Erin Gourley

An Otago student who is recovering from stage four cancer has not received living costs all year because Studylink declined his application for limited full-time status.  “I have a bit of savings but I’m chewing through that quickly,” said Bradley Jackson. He studies sports Read more...

Myanmar Fundraiser Yeeted From Campus Then Promptly Un-Yeeted

Posted 11:39am Wednesday 31st March 2021 by Denzel Chung

The University initially refused to allow an on-campus food fundraiser for activists in Myanmar, but reversed its decision after a “strongly-worded email” from OUSA President Michaela Waite-Harvey. The fundraising Burmese students were shocked when Property Services said their food Read more...

Landlords Using Op-Shops As Dumping Ground

Posted 6:59pm Sunday 28th March 2021 by Denzel Chung

The manager of an op-shop has accused landlords of using their shop to dump waste, but the head of the Otago Property Investors’ Association (OPIA) said students are mainly to blame.  April Topi-Elliot, who has managed the SPCA Op-Shop in North East Valley since it opened 5 years ago, Read more...

No Kerbside Recycling for Inner City Residents

Posted 3:02pm Sunday 28th March 2021 by Asia Martusia King

It’s hard to recycle in the city, according to concerns raised by students. Residents flatting in the CBD and George Street’s retail district do not have access to kerbside recycling.  The Dunedin City Council has implemented three $80,000 neighbourhood recycling drop-off Read more...

Subeditor Delegated Very Important Task of Putting an Overly Long Title on Tedious OUSA Article

Posted 2:53pm Sunday 28th March 2021 by Denzel Chung

Once a quarter, Critic Te Arohi put themselves through the punishing process of reading and summarising the OUSA Exec’s reports for you, our readers. We do it because the only emotion we’re capable of feeling at this point is pain and we kind of like it we feel a strong sense of duty and Read more...

“Sign-tology” on the Rise in Dunedin

Posted 10:19pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Fox Meyer

In a time when our lives are increasingly meaningless, in which we feel evermore like a digital drop in a vast online ocean, Sign Up Club is a beacon of hope. It offers community, it offers connection, it offers meaning. And all at the click of a button. But all is not well in SignUpVille. Above Read more...

14% Rise in Postgrad Enrolments at Otago

Posted 10:15pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Erin Gourley

There are 14% more students doing postgraduate qualifications at Otago this year, in what has been termed “doing a panic masters”. The largest increase is in humanities students, with a 30.5% increase in the number of students doing masters from last year. Health Sciences masters Read more...

New Zealand Robot Fights Other Robots and Wins

Posted 10:04pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Oscar Paul

New Zealand are now officially the world champions of robot combat, becoming the first non-American team to hold the top spot. The University of Auckland's Faculty of Engineering have successfully won the most recent Battlebots season, which many fans consider the world championship league Read more...

OPINION: Opinion: You Don’t Have to Go to The Rugby

Posted 9:43pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Oscar Francis

Let’s just be clear on one thing: I’m not being anti-rugby. Rugby is a great game. It’s something that we orientate our identity around, both as individuals and a nation. Going to the stadium gives a lot of us a feeling of fitting in, and stability in an uncertain Read more...

NZUSA and You

Posted 9:39pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Runze Liu

The OUSA pays $45,500 (1.16% of their total revenue) as membership fees to the NZUSA according to their 2021 budget. So, what the hell is the NZUSA? Is it a local ripoff of the country that brought you David Hasselhoff drunkenly eating a hamburger off the floor? Maybe it’s the New Zealand Read more...

Netsky Still Headlining Ori Despite Pūkana Controversy

Posted 9:33pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Denzel Chung

Belgian DJ Netsky will still be headlining OUSA’s Ori 2021 concert, despite sharing a video on Instagram showing people mocking the pūkana at a post-America’s Cup celebration party. In a statement shared with Radio One, OUSA President Michaela Waite-Harvey acknowledged that Read more...

Trans Student Raises Concerns About Otago University

Posted 9:29pm Friday 26th March 2021 by Erin Gourley

A trans student at Otago has raised concerns about the lack of gender neutral bathrooms and the use of deadnames in University systems. Ethan*, a trans student, said that “student wellbeing should be prioritised on campus, to ensure we are in the best state to learn. A lack of vital Read more...

14% Rise in Postgrad Enrolments at Otago

Posted 4:22pm Wednesday 24th March 2021 by Erin Gourley

There are 14% more students doing postgraduate qualifications at Otago this year, in what has been termed “doing a panic masters”.  The largest increase is in humanities students, with a 30.5% increase in the number of students doing masters from last year, according to Read more...

Student Hardship Fund Remains Hard

Posted 2:37pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Fox Meyer

Pūtea Tautoko supported 12.5% of all students enrolled last year. Plans are underway to ensure the hardship fund continues into 2021. Last year, the Pūtea Tautoko coffers were filled by $2 million directly from the University, around $500k donated by staff, alumni and friends of the Read more...

Universities Provide MIQ Subsidy for International Students

Posted 2:34pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Erin Gourley

New Zealand’s universities, including Otago, have agreed to subsidise 50% of the cost of MIQ for returning international students. The New Zealand International Students’ Association (NZISA) announced the subsidy in a Facebook post on Friday 12 March. “NZISA applauds the Read more...

Drug Safety Club Back in Talks With OUSA

Posted 2:31pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Fox Meyer

The Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) club and OUSA are working together to get the club affiliated. Affiliation would allow the SSDP to take advantage of OUSA’s resources and reach a wider audience, objectives supported by both parties. Originally, OUSA denied SSDP their application Read more...

ODT Ends Half-Century Contract For Distribution Manager

Posted 2:29pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Denzel Chung

A woman who has helped to deliver newspapers to Dunedin for 45 years, employing 60 children and disabled people, had her contract ended in a single letter from the ODT on Friday.  Sue Loan has worked as the distributor for the ODT for 45 years. She managed 60 people, including children and Read more...

Activist Urges More “Bongs On The Ground” Activism

Posted 2:26pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Denzel Chung

Bert Holmes, a veteran environmental and cannabis law-reform activist, has called for more “loud and proud” cannabis activism by students on campus, saying “that’s how we got to where we are today.”  In an interview with Critic Te Arohi, Bert, now coordinator of Read more...

St Paddy’s Was A Wholesome Time

Posted 2:22pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Denzel Chung

On the ground reporting from Critic Te Arohi showed that, despite the ODT reporting “a night of St. Patrick’s Day carnage,” students largely commemorated the death of the patron saint of Ireland in a wholesome way.  In keeping with the time-honoured traditions of yore, a Read more...

A Quarter Of Health Scis Disappoint Their Parents

Posted 2:16pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Denzel Chung

Out of the 1323 students enrolled into Health Science First Year (HSFY) at the start of 2020, 300 had changed courses for semester two, a total of 23% of the cohort.  Students Critic Te Arohi spoke to weren’t surprised by the numbers, generally agreeing that it sounded “about Read more...

Uni Cuts Medical Imagery Degree

Posted 2:12pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

The University of Otago has decided to kill off three postgraduate programmes based around medical imaging.  The Masters of Medical Imaging, as well as the Postgraduate Diploma (or Certificate) in Medical Imaging were announced back in 2018, but never officially opened to students. Since Read more...

Prices Go Up At Uni Again

Posted 2:10pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic

The University has raised prices yet again at their food outlets. Those on the study grind are notoriously poor, and after prices went up multiple times last year, this latest increase will be another gut punch to the food court faithful. According to Campus and Collegiate Life Services Read more...

“Fear on Both Sides”: Students and Community March in Support of Burmese People

Posted 12:00pm Sunday 21st March 2021 by Fox Meyer

On Saturday 13 March, 60 people walked from the Train Station to Octagon in solidarity with the people of Myanmar. The mix of students and community members gave speeches and protested the military coup that took place in Myanmar on the first of February.  Eileen Corcoran of Radio One was at Read more...