Archive

Budget provokes outrage and apathy among students

Posted 3:03pm Sunday 26th May 2013 by Jack Montgomerie

An OUSA-run forum on the Government’s budget resulted in yawns for many on Monday. Speakers from the youth wings of most parliamentary parties were generally ambivalent, although Finance Minister Bill English’s latest effort attracted criticism from even the Government’s most ardent supporters. Read more...

Fredric leaves Critic happy

Posted 3:03pm Sunday 26th May 2013 by Staff Reporter

Callum Fredric has stepped down as editor of Critic after reaching a settlement with OUSA last Friday. Fredric was suspended after a meeting with Darel Hall, the General Manager of OUSA and its subsidiary company Planet Media Dunedin Ltd (PMDL), on Friday 3 May. This suspension was confirmed in a Read more...

Excessive entitlement exacerbates exams

Posted 3:03pm Sunday 26th May 2013 by Claudia Herron

Exam failure may be attributed to a student’s exaggerated belief that they deserve to succeed, according to research conducted by the University of Otago. The study confirms, as educators often claim, that some students believe they have a right to succeed, known as “excessive entitlement,” Read more...

Referen-dumb?

Posted 3:03pm Sunday 26th May 2013 by Sam McChesney

An OUSA referendum will be held this week from Monday 27 to Friday 31 May. The referendum comprises six questions, one of which would radically alter OUSA’s governance structure. Question Six was included in the referendum after former Executive member Dan Stride started a petition and Read more...

The Cook is cooked

Posted 3:03pm Sunday 26th May 2013 by Jack Montgomerie

The Captain Cook Tavern’s long history looks set to come to a close, with the pub’s lease expiring un-renewed on 29 June. James Arnott is one of the owners of Cook Brothers Bars, which has operated the pub for nine years, along with other establishments in the Octagon, Queenstown, Christchurch and Read more...

Fredric steps down as Critic editor

Posted 2:26pm Tuesday 21st May 2013 by Staff Reporter

Callum Fredric has stepped down as editor of Critic after reaching a settlement with OUSA last Friday. Fredric was suspended after a meeting with OUSA General Manager Darel Hall on Tuesday 7 May. The terms of the settlement remain confidential. Hall refused to confirm any details to Critic, Read more...

Israelient

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Thomas Raethel

Last Tuesday afternoon, Otago University hosted Shalom Cohen, the former Israeli Ambassador to Egypt, for a discussion with students and staff. Cohen is currently the acting Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand. Mr Cohen spent much of the heated discussion addressing the recent “Arab Spring”; or Read more...

University council holds a meeting

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Bella Macdonald

Otago University has been deemed by the Otago Daily Times as “trumpeting” its contribution to Dunedin after the annual Economic Impact Report was presented at the University Council meeting on Tuesday 14 March. A media release by the University stated, “The overall direct economic impact of Read more...

Shitty health decisions

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Bella Macdonald

The Ministry of Health is in the firing line of Otago professors due to its reluctance to introduce a bowel cancer-screening pilot programme nationwide, despite the programme’s proven success. University of Otago health services researcher Dr Sarah Derrett, also on the Board of the patient- Read more...

Radio 45,000

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Zane Pocock

OUSA announced $45,000 capital expenditure plans for Radio One’s technical equipment last Wednesday. OUSA President Francisco Hernandez told Dunedin Television, “it is a big vote of confidence in the future of Radio One as it approaches its 30th birthday. “Research shows the Read more...

Budget 2013: Nothing new for impoverished students

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Josie Cochrane

It appears the National Party is waiting until election year 2014 to give New Zealand’s domestic tertiary students any excitement in the Government’s annual Budget. Student allowances will continue to exist only for younger students and people studying for their first degrees. Students aged Read more...

Daft punks ignore Daft Punk suggestion

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Jack Montgomerie

OUSA has met a suggestion that it underwrite a Daft Punk gig with a mix of excitement, caution and derision. Radio One station manager Sean Norling’s spontaneous idea was emailed to Daft Punk’s agent Richard de la Font on Sunday evening. Norling, who has so far received an auto-reply from de Read more...

Debating Society refrain from debating their privilege

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Zane Pocock

University of Otago Vice Chancellor Prof. Harlene Hayne has provided a $25,000 grant to the Otago University Debating Society (OUDS). In a letter to OUDS president Paul Hunt, Hayne recognised the society’s recent “international exposure … putting Otago on the world stage as a top ranking Read more...

Ghosts write essays for cash

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Thomas Raethel

A nationwide made-to-order web-based essay service marketed primarily towards Chinese students has been uncovered. Assignment4U is registered with a New Zealand domain name, and markets itself as an “academic advisory” service. A 1,500-word essay ordered by Fairfax Media last week cost $270, Read more...

South Dunedin pimps pimp

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Claudia Herron

An elderly gentleman from South Dunedin has been outed as a “pimp” by the Otago Daily Times after a popular YouTube video inspired them to publish an article about the man’s “pimped out” mobility scooter. While the aged hustler is far from making coin from the South Dunedin hunnies, the ODT Read more...

Whare Krishna

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Claudia Herron

The Hare Krishna community in Dunedin has been gifted a house to call their spiritual home thanks to a gracious donation from one of the group’s members. At the end of this year, 133 London Street will become the new Dunedin Hare Krishna Cultural Centre. Hare Krishna member Jane Beecroft Read more...

OUSA to break world record by inventing it

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Zane Pocock

OUSA’s events department last week announced part of the line-up for their Re-Orientation Week events. The night of Wednesday 10 July will see Forsyth Barr Stadium hosting the world’s largest ever paint fight, and Shapeshifter will perform in the Town Hall on Saturday 13 July. On track for Read more...

Recreation Centre facelift lacks actual lift

Posted 1:24pm Sunday 19th May 2013 by Jack Montgomerie

OUSA’s $1.7 million renovation of its Recreation Centre building (formerly Clubs and Socs) is set to give students a more modern, functional space for activities. However, one of its services will remain off-limits to some disabled students. After a consultation process including user surveys Read more...

Ferguson finally fucks off

Posted 2:26pm Sunday 12th May 2013 by Sam McChesney

The big news in sport over the last week has been the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United. We’ve been here before – Ferguson announced his retirement at the start of 2002 only to perform a U-turn at the end of the season – but this time it’s for realsies. Ferguson’s Read more...

Police render point-proving tactics irrelephant

Posted 2:26pm Sunday 12th May 2013 by Staff Reporter

An elephant was discovered in the Critic office last Thursday. The elephant appeared in the room while the Critic staff were writing that week’s news. It is unclear what the elephant’s motives were. The elephant was eventually removed by the police, and has declined to comment on the incident. Read more...