Archive

Electoral Commission pays for enrolments

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Anna Whyte

The recent 2014 New Zealand General Election involved enrolment drives from both OUSA and the Electoral Commission. Those hired by the Electoral Commission are paid depending on how many people they enrol, whereas other parties, such as OUSA, receive no payment. Murray Wicks, the Electoral Read more...

National media: Halls want porn

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 5th October 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Last week, 19-year-old University of Otago student Anton Hovius attracted nationwide attention after accusing the University of “draconian” alcohol and Internet usage policies at the Halls of Residence. His comments on the strict alcohol rules and blockage of various file sharing and pornography Read more...

Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival - Critic's pick of the crop

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Zane Pocock

This Saturday 4 October welcomes back the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival, organised by OUSA. Bridging town and gown, there’s something for everyone – the average Scarfie can (oddly) have their usual Speight’s and drink it too, while the more discerning palate can opt for something a bit more, Read more...

Politweets | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Don’t we all. Whoops. Unfortunate. Breaking news. Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest Hit Without a doubt, Greatest Hit this week goes to John Oliver. Oliver is an American comedian who hosts Last Week Tonight, a show that essentially points out all the ludicrous things that have happened around the world. Last week, New Zealand featured! There’s nothing like a bit of Read more...

Critic (still) tackles election year

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

After the initial shock of Election Day, where, for all intents and purposes, nothing changed, have come the autopsies. For the left, whose momentum towards the end came from the revelations about the inner workings of the National Party as much as it did from their own parties’ merits, the result Read more...

Aaron Cruden and the irony of alcohol sponsorship of sport

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the rugby desk, where a few weeks ago I touched on the subject of the media’s relation to sport and how it can be used as a positive or negative distraction from real issues. A timely example came immediately following a long and eventful election campaign when it can be difficult to fill a Read more...

Proctology | Issue 25

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

All the Halls of Residence are now on alcohol ban, in preparation for the exam period. The Proctor notes, “This doesn’t mean their residents will stop drinking [but] it does seem to mean they will buy vast quantities of alcohol and sit in gardens and parks and drink it there.” The Proctor does not Read more...

Otago students ignite dunedin in all the right ways

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

A group of 20 Otago students have injected their time and talents into Dunedin not-for-profit organisations as part of the Ignite Consultants program, blowing away expectations from the organisations involved. In the presentations evening held at the Dunedin Art Gallery on Wednesday 24 Read more...

Gecko geeks and preserving the peninsula

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

The Jewelled Gecko is one of Otago’s treasures. The lively green reptile is so rare and valuable that the location of its conservation sites cannot be disclosed for fear of eager poachers. Carey Knox, a herpetologist for EcoGecko Consultants, says the markings along their backs are like Read more...

Otago archives of early maori and european contact

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Anna Whyte

The University of Otago’s Hocken Library will pave the way for influential research surrounding early Māori and European contact in New Zealand from 1808 to 1823. The Marsden Online Archive team will make Anglican cleric Samuel Marsden's personal, transcribed, hand-written letters and journals Read more...

Otago Blues and Golds awards

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Bella Macdonald

The University of Otago celebrated the success of sporting, cultural and service achievements at the annual Blues and Golds awards ceremony on Thursday 25 September at the University Rowing Club. OUSA Recreation Officer Henri Faulkner welcomed everyone to the event before introducing MBA Read more...

Studylink survey shows students sort of satisfied

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

StudyLink, in association with the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), have released the results from their 2014 Learner Advisory Panel. Consisting of 178 learners from Universities and Polytechnics around New Zealand, the Panel aimed to outline the (in)experiences the students had Read more...

College of Education stretched for cash

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

In a meeting on Monday 22 September, it was announced that 20 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions at the University of Otago’s College of Education would be cut. The Otago Daily Times reported the following Wednesday that academic staff hours in the college would be reduced from 49.6 to 38 FTEs. Read more...

Student apathy not helped by OUSA

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Emily Draper

The OUSA Executive has been elected for 2015, but a lack of advertising for nominations and minimal campaigning has resulted in a nearly 40 per cent drop in votes this year. The OUSA Executive represents the wider population of students on major issues throughout the year. Despite this, Read more...

Bar owners against proposed alcohol rules

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Laura Munro

The new liquor laws currently being proposed by the Dunedin City Council have received a severe backlash from bar owners in the North Dunedin community. The aspects of the regulation that appear the most controversial are a 3am bar close-time, a 1am start to the one-way door policy, a prohibition on Read more...

2015 OUSA Executive election results

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 28th September 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The results are in for the 2015 OUSA Executive. The positions were all filled except for a 2015 International Officer. Paul Hunt won the position of OUSA President 2015 over Henri Faulkner. Faulkner thinks he “was really approachable” but notes that he failed to visit the halls, “didn’t Read more...

Are students a secondary priority?

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Laura Munro

The University of Otago is ranked as one of the best tertiary institutions in New Zealand. As quoted by Chancellor John Ward in the University’s 2013 Annual Report, “students are taught by world-leaders in their fields, and our graduates continue to be sought after by employers for their Read more...

Politweets | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Whoops. 23.5. Might be a good idea, John. Yes. Haha. Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 24

Posted 3:00pm Sunday 21st September 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitThis one’s really easy this week. By the time you read this, the election will be over, and I’ll be able to return to a relatively peaceful life. Thank the fucking Lord. Greatest ShitI really don’t think I could give it to anything other than the National Party for being sued by Read more...