Archive

Exec Propose to Pay Themselves More

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 28th July 2024 by Nina Brown

An emergency meeting was held between the OUSA Exec last week to discuss the proposal of paying themselves more. Given they’re currently paid $20.50 per hour pre-tax (minimum wage in NZ is $23.15) you can see their reasoning. They plan to present proposed remuneration changes to the student Read more...

Shrexy U-Bar Kicks off Re-Ori

Posted 4:17pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

After U-Bar was SWAMPED with closure for much of the second half of first semester (cue wails from Pint Night loyalists), its semester two debut was OUSA’s very own Shrek rave – presented by yours truly.  Boasting free entry and complimentary glow sticks – potentially in a Read more...

Closed Caption Lectures (Hopefully) A Step Closer

Posted 4:15pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

In a win for accessibility and people who swear they can’t hear without subtitles, closed-captions in lectures appear to be getting closer to reality for Otago tauira. Last week, all students were emailed a link for surveys inviting them to give feedback on a policy proposed by the OUSA Exec Read more...

Students Pressure Unis for Stance on Palestine

Posted 3:38pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Nina Brown

Students for Justice in Palestine across the motu are continuing to pressure their universities to take political stances on the war on Palestine. Universities continue to defend their positions of “institutional neutrality” – a position students might have been willing to accept Read more...

Capping Show Claims Edinburgh Ripped Off ‘Beezie’ Theme

Posted 3:36pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Molly Smith-Soppet

A recent Edinburgh Realty ad campaign has raised eyebrows after students noticed it looked somewhat similar to the Capping Show’s Barbie-esque theme. Edinburgh? More like Edinbruh. With similarities in colour palette, characters, and terminology, Capping Show members have voiced their Read more...

Free Brekky Attracts Porridge Pinchers

Posted 3:32pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Robbie Heller

Rumours of a porridge thief swept the free brekky community last week after successive mornings saw the porridge stock depleted quicker than you can say “oatmeal.” Breakfast runs from the OUSA Clubs and Socs building from 8:30am every morning, but claims say that the porridge has been Read more...

Exec Member’s Ghosting Prompts By-Election

Posted 3:24pm Saturday 20th July 2024 by Hugh Askerud

A by-election for the Finance and Strategy Officer role on the OUSA Student Exec has been called. Abby Clayton, who occupied the role last semester, bowed out of her Exec position last Monday, July 15th. Her formal resignation followed a month of radio silence, with repeated attempts to reach the Read more...

OUSA Referendum Results Are In

Posted 8:42pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Nina Brown

The OUSA referendum was at the end of last semester. All enrolled Otago Uni students were emailed a link to an online survey to have their say on what OUSA should focus their efforts on. Questions were able to be submitted by students prior to being put to vote, and after some to and fro (with many Read more...

Daddy Grant Graces the Vice Chancellor’s Throne

Posted 8:36pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Nina Brown

July 1st marked Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka’s freshly minted Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson’s first day on the job. The former OUSA President and Deputy Prime Minister has had a busy first couple weeks of welcomes, meetings, and media attention, telling the Uni Council at his first Read more...

OUSA Student Support Has New Digs

Posted 8:32pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

OUSA Student Support shifted locations early last week, vacating its building on Ethel Benjamin (behind Clubs and Socs) and moving into the old National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies – a casualty of the University’s financial strain.  For those unfamiliar, OUSA Student Read more...

All Aboard the Contiki School Bus

Posted 8:30pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

If seeing one more TikTok of Euro summer will send you over the edge, travel company Contiki has revealed they’re now offering ‘Contiki University’ branded trips, offering eight ‘courses’, each fit with a major and minor subject. Pretty sure this isn’t why Read more...

SPCA Investigates Claims of Expo Animal Abuse

Posted 6:59pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Hanna Varrs

A recent ‘Exotic Pet Expo’ in the North East Valley has caused community uproar as allegations of false advertising and animal abuse pour in from community members. Organiser Amelia Seales, who has run the event twice before, has firmly denied any wrong-doing.  The expo, held on Read more...

OUSA Criticises Residential Tenancies Amendment Act

Posted 6:56pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Hugh Askerud

The OUSA Student Exec recently submitted on the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill in opposition to its proposed introduction of no-cause evictions. It’s exactly what it sounds like: the bill would allow landlords to evict tenants without needing to give a reason. Critic Te Ārohi spoke Read more...

Student Exec Turn In Second Quarterly Reports

Posted 6:53pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Hugh Askerud

Is it that time already? OUSA second quarterly reports are in (most of them), and we’re here to give you an insight into what our student dictators have been doing/not doing in the time you’ve been pilfering snacks from your parents' pantry. Buckle up for a rootin’ Read more...

Otago Uni Releases Statement on Free Speech

Posted 6:47pm Saturday 13th July 2024 by Hugh Askerud

In a flying start at his first Uni Council meeting last Tuesday, new Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson (GRob for short) approved the ‘University of Otago Statement on Free Speech’. Free speech advocates have since come out calling it the “gold standard” of policies. The Read more...

Grant Robertson Begins Appointment as New VC

Posted 3:20pm Monday 1st July 2024 by Nina Brown

Today marks Grant Robertson’s official first day as the incoming Vice Chancellor for Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.  Mana whenua hosted a pōwhiri for Grant at Ōtākou Marae this morning on Otago Peninsula, an event that OUSA President Keegan Wells noted saw some Read more...

Streaker Carnage Causes Nose Break

Posted 8:20pm Sunday 26th May 2024 by Gryffin Blockley

Sources are keeping quiet in the wake of an ongoing legal proceeding involving an alleged broken nose at the hands of a streaker during the Highlanders vs Crusaders game on May 11th. Cracker of a Zoo turn-out, by the way.  At the game in question, 11 streakers took to the field, two of whom Read more...

Gone Rogue! Host Flat of Ball Wrecked

Posted 8:18pm Sunday 26th May 2024 by Harriette Boucher

A renowned Castle Street flat (let’s call them ‘The Elephant’*) were in shock after finding 14 smashed windows, pieces of their walls, heaters, and their fire alarm ripped out, in the wake of their annual ball.  The annual ball that has reportedly been running since 2015 Read more...

Otago Joins Nationwide Tertiary Palestine Protest

Posted 7:35pm Sunday 26th May 2024 by Hanna Varrs

Muslim Student Associations across Aotearoa New Zealand banded together last Thursday, May 23rd, to rally for Palestine. The rally is the brain-child of a meeting that took place in Wellington on the 12th of May, in which the presidents of Muslim Student Associations collectively decided on a Read more...

Night at the Museum: Hoedown After Dark

Posted 7:34pm Sunday 26th May 2024 by Hanna Varrs

On a cold, breezy night, Critic Te Ārohi strapped on RM Williams boots and Harry Styles-esque cowgirl hats and wandered on over to the biggest event the country folk of Dunedin have ever seen: the Hoedown After Dark, held by the Tūhura Otago Museum and OUSA.  Hosted from 7-10pm on Read more...