Archive

Why Isn't The Good One Party Register Working?

Posted 9:08pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Joel MacManus

OPINION: Dunedin recently launched the Good One Party Register to very little fanfare and minimal success. In fact, of the ten students Critic very informally surveyed, just one of them knew what it was. Basically, Good One is a website where you fill in the address and expected size of a party Read more...

Why Otago University Needs A Marae

Posted 9:04pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Tiana Mihaere

OPINION: To many indigenous people, the marae or wharenui is a place of great cultural significance. It is a place where we come together to welcome new people to our whenua, to celebrate life, to mourn those who have passed. It is a place where we can address past grievances, express ourselves and Read more...

Students Challenge Sexual Violence Stereotypes

Posted 9:02pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Esme Hall

Content Warning: discussion of sexual violence, child sexual abuse, rape, intimate partner violence     As part of Rape Awareness Week, Union Hall turned into an exhibition of clothing of survivors of rape and sexual assault. The Students Against Sexual Violence (SASV) Read more...

Hunters Gear Up for Magic Mushroom Season as Cold Weather Hits

Posted 9:01pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Summer is fading away to autumn, the temperature is dropping, the puffer jackets are multiplying, and getting out of bed is harder than making cool friends. It is also the start of magic mushroom season.  Critic approached some mushroomeers to ask how the season’s shaping up. Read more...

Students ‘Heart-Broken’ After Fortune Theatre Shuts Down

Posted 8:59pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Students expressed their sadness last week as the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin’s only professional theatre, closed permanently, as it was no longer financially viable. The theatre will cancel all its current and future shows, and close its facilities to outside groups.  “We have Read more...

Why Haven't Our Students Associations Done Anything About V.S.M.?

Posted 8:33pm Saturday 5th May 2018 by Joel MacManus

EDITORIAL: VSM is the most important issue facing students right now. So why the fuck aren’t we doing anything about it? Voluntary Student Membership, or VSM, was the worst thing to ever happen to students’ associations. When the ACT Party Bill passed in 2011, it was Public Enemy Read more...

OUSA President: The DCC Don't Give a Flying Fuck About Students

Posted 3:16pm Tuesday 1st May 2018 by

OPINION: The DCC don’t give a flying f about OUSA. They don't care about you or me personally. Actually, they don't care about anyone between the ages of 18-24, and if you’re a mature student, they probably don’t care about you either. My biggest problems with the Read more...

Sexual Violence Prevention Centre Opening During Rape Awareness Week

Posted 2:36am Monday 30th April 2018 by Staff Reporter

The University is opening a dedicated sexual violence prevention centre, Te Whare Tawharau (a place of shelter), at 5 Leithbank (between the college of education and the commerce building) following a 3-year-long review of sexual misconduct policies. Te Whare Tawharau is a drop-in centre that Read more...

Quality of Fake Hyde Street Bands Catches Security By Surprise

Posted 2:34am Monday 30th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

Fraudsters and shucksters stepped up their game for this year’s Hyde Street, as fake wristbands saw a level of professionalism never before seen. Event staff said that several of the wristbands scanned over the course of the day all showed up as the same female second year law student, Read more...

Computer-based examinations for seven papers this semester

Posted 2:32am Monday 30th April 2018 by Esme Hall

Seven papers will introduce computer-based exams this semester as the University trials computer-based examinations. OUSA Campaigns Officer Roger Yan sits on the Computer Based Examinations working group that has the “goal of finding a working product that the University can use if it wants Read more...

Pharmacy Students “Mucked Around” by Bus Company

Posted 2:30am Monday 30th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

The Pharmacy Students’ Association (NZAPS-O) has been fucked over by a bus company while trying to attend their annual Pharmacy Camp. In February this year NZAPS-O chartered Ritchie’s Bus Service to take 120 students to Pharmacy Camp. Laura Pidcock, the NZAPS-O President, confirmed Read more...

Two AUSA Executive Members Resign

Posted 2:29am Monday 30th April 2018 by Esme Hall

Two Auckland University Students’ Association executive members have resigned in the space of two days over claims of unreasonable work hours and poor management. Welfare Vice-President Isabel Holm resigned on Wednesday 18th April and Queer Rights Officer Isabella Francis resigned on Friday Read more...

Hyde Street Is Boring Now. And That’s a Very Good Thing.

Posted 2:19am Monday 30th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

Editorial: Hyde Street 2018 was boring. And that’s exactly how it should be. I don’t mean it was boring for the attendees; the crowds we saw there were having an absolute frother of a time (at least until the rain hit). But media were well and truly disappointed. In the six years Read more...

Proctor Tries to Shut Down Student Party, Fails

Posted 8:56pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

A student-run party to raise money for the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital went ahead last week despite the Proctor’s attempts to shut it down. Pedro, one of the organisers, told Critic that he went to see the Proctor to gain the University’s approval for the party, and that the Proctor Read more...

Student Bar Might Actually Happen After All

Posted 8:38pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

University of Otago COO Steve Willis has indicated that a new or revamped student bar on campus could be a possibility as the Uni looks at new developments over the next couple of years. The Union Food Court is “not losing money any more,” Willis said, while addressing the OUSA Exec Read more...

Men’s Only Med Group Hopes to Combat Mental Health

Posted 8:35pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Esme Hall

The Otago University Medical Students’ Association (OUMSA) has started a men’s only social group for mental health support called “Men in Med”. It forms part of OUMSA’s wider initiative to provide social events that aren’t centred around alcohol. Third-year Read more...

Recreation Officer’s Re-Created Report Accepted

Posted 8:31pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

Success! Josh Smythe, OUSA Re-Creation Officer, has had his quarterly report passed, granting him his honorarium for the first quarter. Josh’s report, which was covered in Critic #6, was dedicated to “the breathas and the homies,” insisted on listing his title as Re-Creation Read more...

Burglars hit Hyde Street

Posted 8:28pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Hyde Street resident Sam Gallagher, says he is “pissed” after having a Playstation 4 and an Xbox One stolen from his flat. After “a big night” out on the piss, he got home and went to bed, but couldn’t sleep because he “accidentally drank pre-workout Read more...

Freshers Do Sport, Critic Makes Up Results

Posted 8:24pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

The season kicked off last Saturday for the turgid, semi-competitive shambles that is the inter-college sports league. Critic did not send a reporter down to watch any of the games, because if we wanted to watch a whole lot of sweaty freshers yell and bump into each other, we’d just go to Read more...

CCTV Cameras Begin to Roll Out

Posted 8:20pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Esme Hall

CCTV camera installations are “running a little late” but they have arrived, says a University spokesperson. Two new cameras are now operational. One faces west on Albany Street outside the Link, while the other faces north on Leith St at the corner of St David, which “is kinda Read more...

OUSA Lobby for More Seats on University Council

Posted 8:19pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

OUSA have drafted a submission lobbying the government to increase the number of student seats on the University Council. There is only one seat currently reserved for a student, held by the OUSA President. Sam Smith, OUSA Finance Officer, said that only having one student is “not adequate Read more...

By Underpaying RAs, the University is Taking Advantage of its Most Kind-Hearted Students

Posted 8:06pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

Editorial: My first year at Otago in a residential college was the worst year of my life. I had left my small school where I had known most of my classmates since childhood, and been transplanted into a hectic mixing pot where I didn’t know anyone and felt like I didn’t fit in. I was Read more...

President’s Pet Fish Murdered in Brutal Homicidal Rampage

Posted 5:47pm Thursday 19th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

OUSA President Caitlin Barlow-Groome has been in mourning this past week after her beloved pet fish were eaten alive by her flatmate’s friend. The gruesome mouthal assault occurred after her flatmate and his friend had been drinking alcohol and perhaps swearing. The friend menacingly plucked Read more...

“Stress and Uncertainty” for Uni Staff Over Job Cuts

Posted 12:45am Friday 13th April 2018 by Esme Hall

The University of Otago has admitted causing “stress and anxiety” after unspecified job cuts were announced, leaving many support staff unsure of their future. The University announced in July last year that 160 equivalent full-time jobs would disappear after the Support Services Read more...

Editorial: Critic Announces Bold New Plan to Make the OUSA Referendum Suck Less

Posted 8:28pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

The OUSA Referendum is always boring as shit and no one ever submits any questions. Mostly because it seems like it takes actual time and effort and requires a passion for student politics that most people simply don’t have. The thing is, it’s not that hard to get stuff added to the Read more...

Opinion: Kicking up a Fuss About a Change in Petrol Excise Tax Is a Waste of Time

Posted 8:15pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Ben Hay-Smith

Anyone who is calling out the current Labour government for lying and turning back on their pre-election promise of “no new taxes” until 2020 is either: An idiot. Arguing semantics to make a minor issue seem larger than it is. When the Labour party promised in the lead-up to Read more...

Wild Dunedin Festival Getting Back to Nature

Posted 8:13pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Thea Bailie-Bellew

When you first look at the programme for the Wild Dunedin Festival, it’s a little overwhelming to see so many events crammed into only five days. There are express tours to the albatross colony, a wildlife photography exhibition, a penguin kite-building workshop, and documentary viewings, and Read more...

Anonymous Domestic Abuse Support Available on OUSA Website

Posted 8:11pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Esme Hall

OUSA has introduced access to the Shielded Site Project through its website. Shielded Site is put together by Women’s Refuge New Zealand and is an icon that sits on any website and launches anonymous resources to help those in domestic violence situations. Victims of abuse can access Read more...

OPINION: Postgrads Need to Eat Too

Posted 8:10pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Chelle Fitzgerald

As a third year student who depends on the student allowance in order to keep my miserable existence in a run-down flat (up a hill no less!), I have been anxiously watching and wondering about Labour’s 2017 election promise to reinstate the postgraduate student allowance. Currently, honours Read more...

BREAKING INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

Posted 8:08pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

In recent weeks a sinister Wall has emerged on the bottom floor of the lie-brary, where the computers used to be. The Wall has been painted black, with strange runic symbols daubed in invisible ink, and white plastic, the colour of white, girdles its extremities.  A pair of large double Read more...

Hyde Street to Become Fully Self-Funded After Ticket Price Increase

Posted 8:02pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Ticket prices for the Hyde Street Party are increasing this year as OUSA make the event financially independent. Ticket prices for the average student are going up from $20 to $35, and ticket prices for residents are going from $2 to $5.      OUSA Events Manager Jason Read more...

Students Pay Tribute To Departing Law Dean

Posted 7:59pm Thursday 12th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

Tributes have poured in from current and former Otago University Law Students following Mark Henaghan stepping down as Dean of the Otago Faculty of Law. A Facebook group, “Seeking Mark Henaghan Tributes” was created on April 6 by former students Andrew Row and Harriet Enright, and Read more...

OUSA No Longer Offering Free Flu Jabs

Posted 8:48pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Thea Bailie-Bellew

OUSA has decided not to give out free flu shots to students this year. As if the fresher flu wasn’t bad enough, now we don’t even have the chance to escape it. Back in 2016, OUSA ran a pilot scheme of 150 free flu vaccinations in order to gauge interest prior to launching a bigger Read more...

OPINION: How Gay Is Gay Enough?

Posted 8:46pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Sinead Gill

I’m not sure how proud I feel during Pride Week. Let me cover my ass real quick. I’m not saying I’m not proud of the events on offer, or of the people who work tirelessly to put them on. Pride Week 2018 looks cool. I’m just saying that there are still internal conflicts in Read more...

OUSA Battle of the Bands Poster “Culturally Insensitive”

Posted 8:44pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

A promotional billboard for the OUSA Battle of the Bands event has been pulled after it sparked controversy for its use of a hodgepodge of cultural symbolism for a seemingly unrelated event. The image shows a person in some sort of traditional headdress from an unspecified South American culture, Read more...

Pride Week is back, bitches!

Posted 8:42pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Sinead Gill

A cause for celebration! Pride Week is back after its three-year hiatus. And it looks to be a cracker week, boasting an impressive line-up of 17 events over nine days. If you’re worried about missing out on cool stuff because of classes, don’t fear! Some of their events are running Read more...

Critic Offers to Purchase Vic Uni Student Mag Salient for $1500 and a Playstation 2

Posted 8:41pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

A recent fire sale at Victoria’s Salient Magazine isn’t solving the real problem, according to Waikato and Otago student magazine editors. Salient Magazine is facing a funding crisis recently after receiving $10,000 less than originally anticipated from Victoria University of Read more...

No Third Gender Option for Otago University Enrolment

Posted 8:39pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Joel MacManus

There is no gender option other than male or female on University of Otago enrolment forms, something critics say is alienating potential transgender or intersex students. One student, who was interested in enrolling but found there were no options which accurately reflected their gender Read more...

No Non-Binary People Allowed in OUSA Women’s Room

Posted 8:38pm Thursday 5th April 2018 by Esme Hall

OUSA has rejected a request to allow non-binary women to use the OUSA Women’s Room. OUSA’s policy says the Women’s Room in the Union Building is a safe space for women to feel “welcome and free from harassment of any kind”. After a suggestion from Otago Read more...

OUSA Battle of the Bands poster ‘Culturally Insensitive’

Posted 5:16pm Tuesday 27th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

A promotional billboard for the OUSA Battle of the Bands event will be pulled after it sparked controversy for its use of a hodgepodge of cultural symbolism for a seemingly unrelated event.   The image show a person in some sort of traditional headdress from an unspecified South American Read more...

Why I Hope Joseph Parker Loses

Posted 11:21pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Charlie Hantler

On April 1 this year, plenty of people will be made to look like fools all over the world, but none more so than the big kiwi, Joseph Parker. He’s almost certainly going to lose to a far better opponent, and I am thrilled about that. Not because of Joseph himself, but because of his piece of Read more...

Comp Sci Students Make Their Own Timetable App Because eVision Sucks

Posted 11:20pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Esme Hall

A group of Computer Science students have developed an app called WingIt to alow students to view their eVision timetable on mobile phones. One of the developers, William “your friendly neighbourhood computer nerd” Warren said, “it's 2018 already. What self-respecting Read more...

Free Te Reō Classes Return

Posted 11:18pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

In 2016 Te Roopū Māori, the Otago University Māori Students’ Association, started offering free Te Reo Māori classes. The response was impressive, with the beginners’ class in 2017 peaking at 120 people, most of whom were not Māori. “We were overwhelmed Read more...

A Conspiracy Unmasked

Posted 11:17pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

You woke up this morning ignorant and innocent. The sunshine sunk into your skin like a spoon into a puddle of thick custard, and the world oozed contentment. BUT NOW IT WILL ALL CHANGE. A letter was sent to the OUSA Exec on the 12th of March by brave whistleblower Fiona A. Bowker informing Read more...

OUSA Spent $250 on a Portrait of Sexy Garfield

Posted 11:15pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Joel MacManus

$250 of student money was spent by OUSA last year on a 103cm x 78cm, framed portrait of the cartoon cat Garfield wearing pink lingerie, stockings and high heels. The artwork “Lasagnerie” by student Emily Davidson, was featured as a pull out poster in Critic issue 11, 2017, and was Read more...

OUSA Executive Endorse Medical Marijuana

Posted 11:13pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

The OUSA Executive have backed a submission from the Otago Campus Greens on the Government’s new medical marijuana bill. Marijuana, also known as dank weed, the devil’s lettuce, reefer, Chronicles of Narnia, combustible herbargy, buckle truckle, wacky-backy, munt moss, canobinisinis, Read more...

Misleading Maths from the Uni on CCTV Support

Posted 11:10pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Esme Hall

The Uni have used some creative statistics to boost the appearance of student support for CCTV cameras which are about to be installed around North Dunedin. A brochure set to be delivered to student mailboxes says that “65% of students who provided feedback to the University said that they Read more...

Opinion: Why Is the OUSA President Making Excuses for the University?

Posted 11:08pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Alex McKirdy

In OUSA President Caitlin Barlow-Groome’s recent opinion piece, she discussed how our university has been trying their best at student consultation. Trying something, for sure. Caitlin, you’re doing alright, but the last thing you need to do is make excuses for our university. Take Read more...

Editorial | Boy, the ODT Sure Is Good at Journalism.

Posted 9:41pm Thursday 22nd March 2018 by Joel MacManus

In the Critic office there is a whiteboard which months ago was permanently marked by a reporter on some journalism-related rage. “Fuck the ODT,” they scrawled. Below it someone else came along and wrote, “If you do that your crotch will get dusty”. My favourite thing Read more...

Opinion: Why the fuck weren’t students consulted about sweeping changes to the Humanities Division?

Posted 10:42pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Sinead Gill

The Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Tony Ballantyne, has proposed a restructuring of the humanities division. This restructure would result in building shuffles (word on the street is that the Richardson Building is being considered), and the downsizing of humanities from 16 units to 7. These units Read more...

Teams I Hate and Why You Should Hate Them Too: The Golden State Warriors

Posted 10:12pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Charlie Hantler

Fuck Draymond Green This could very easily be an article in itself. The man sits on stage alongside the likes of Steve Smith, Quade Cooper, Bernard Tomic and Justin Gatlin for the most hateable person in sports, and he probably takes out the prize. Affectionate Warriors ‘fans’ Read more...

Some Law Professors Teach You How To Talk to The Police

Posted 10:09pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Colin Gavaghan

OUSA’s “UNI 101 2018 Guide to Student Life” advice [put together by Critic] on how to talk to the police includes the following: “Be honest. You’ve been stopped for a reason so lying to the cops won’t do you any favours. Fess up and apologise.” Not Read more...

Student Area Terrorised by Violent, Knife-Wielding Children

Posted 10:06pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne has slammed the numbers of high school kids attending student parties in North Dunedin, arguing that they cause much of the disorder in the student area. “We have a couple of unwanted visitors at parties, particularly on Castle Street and Hyde Street that are Read more...

Alcohol Crackdown at Physio and Med Flat Crawls

Posted 10:04pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Esme Hall

The Physiotherapy and Medical Students’ Associations can no longer provide alcohol at their Flat Crawl events in accordance with stringent new University policy. In the past student-organised Flat Crawls have provided alcohol, but this year Students Associations had to ask attendees to Read more...

Hare Krishna $3 Lunch Pumping as Always

Posted 10:02pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Esme Hall

Queues for the Hare Krishna $3 Lunch have been snaking out the door of OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre every lunchtime since the start of semester. Jane Ma runs the vegan lunch, singing and calling people “sweetheart”. Monday is pasta, Tuesday is veggies and rice, Wednesday is soup Read more...

Why Cricket Is a Better Metaphor for Sex Than Baseball

Posted 10:00pm Thursday 15th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

I recently found myself in a heated debate over the exact definition of the term “third base”. We all know first base is kissing and second base is feeling a boob, but then where does it go from there? Is third base oral, or is it hand-on-genital contact? If hand-on-breast comes under Read more...

Landers Get The Job Done At The Glasshouse

Posted 10:12pm Friday 9th March 2018 by Charlie Hantler

Highlanders 33 (Squire, A. Smith (2), Naholo, Whitelocktries; Sopoaga 4 conversions), Stormers 15 (Van Zyl, Willemse tries; Marais conversion, penalty)     Getting into the third week of the year, the Freshers were starting to Read more...

Critic Interviews Green MP Marama Davidson

Posted 9:56pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

Why did you decide it was important that you run for Green Party Co-Leader? It wasn’t the easiest decision, but in the end I felt I was best to maintain our independence, grow our movement, and be transparent for our membership. It’s going to be really important for us as a smaller Read more...

Critic Interviews Green MP Julie Anne Genter

Posted 9:55pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Jim Eunson

What do you think young people can expect from the Greens in the next few years? They can expect us to keep leading the call for meaningful action on issues like inequality and climate change. Young people will be hit hardest by both if we don’t change course soon. They can also expect us Read more...

Rule Change Means Students No Longer Lose Marks for Helping Others Cheat

Posted 9:52pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Staff Reporter

New rules around academic misconduct mean that students will no longer lose marks because of misconduct that doesn’t relate to a paper they are enrolled in or isn’t intended to gain them an academic advantage. This means that any cheating which doesn’t directly benefit Read more...

Black Caps Hold Down The Fortress

Posted 9:16pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Charlie Hantler

New Zealand 339 for 5 (Taylor 181*, Latham 71) beat England 335 for 9 (Bairstow 138, Root 102, Sodhi 4-58) by five wickets   You know those moments in childhood when you’d rock on down to the local dairy and nab a dollar mix, and the feeling you’d get Read more...

Landlord Mike Harbott rented “unliveable” flats, ignored Tenancy Tribunal rulings, and has not paid the ordered compensation

Posted 9:14pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

In 2016 eight girls signed a flat with Mike Harbott at 41 Gladstone Road. He told them that the property was being renovated but that the renovations would be complete well before the end of the year. Many of the renovations were not completed. There was no source of heat, no ventilation in the Read more...

Law Camp Cancelled Amidst a Media Frenzy

Posted 6:36pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Esme Hall

Law Camp was set to take place March 9th to 11th, but in a meeting between Pro-Vice Chancellor for Humanities Tony Ballantyne and the Society of Otago University Law Students (SOULS), the University withdrew support from Law Camp. SOULS said that “without this support” they were Read more...

We Crashed the Prime Minister's Tea Party

Posted 6:33pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

Critic often doesn’t get invited to important stuff. Mostly because we aren’t important and no one really likes us. So we decided to start inviting ourselves. We had no idea that Jacinda Ardern was in town, reopening the Dunedin Law Courts and announcing Labour’s Read more...

Opinion: Are We Making Excuses for Inappropriate Behaviour?

Posted 6:31pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Esme Hall

The first time I met Professor Mark Henaghan he put his arm around me and kissed me on the cheek. I was 17 years old in my first week of University and he was the Dean of the Law School. It was a University event so the official photographer probably has photos of me looking very Read more...

OUSA Prez: Does the University Really Care About Student Opinion?

Posted 6:26pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by

I don’t know about you, but I don’t see the point in end of semester evaluations of your paper and lecturer if nothing ever gets done about it. Everyone seems to tell you it will be used to improve next year’s class, but does it really? Finishing the feedback cycle isn’t just Read more...

'Health Sci Bible' Causes Controversy

Posted 6:16pm Thursday 8th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

A book on “How to Survive and Thrive in First Year Health Science” has caused controversy after lecturers apparently accused it of being “full of rubbish and mistakes”. The Health Sci Bible was written by second-year students Marcus Ground and Jack Davies as a Read more...

SOULS Law Camp Cancelled

Posted 4:53pm Monday 5th March 2018 by Joel MacManus

SOULS Law Camp has been cancelled after a meeting between the executive of the Society of Otago University Law Students and the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Humanities, Tony Ballantyne.  The SOULS Executive made the following statement in an email to all law students: "The Society of Otago Read more...

Postgrad Students Locked Out of WiFi Days Before Theses Due

Posted 6:02pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Joel MacManus

Several postgraduate students found themselves locked out of University WiFi and unable to gain after-hours access to their building just days before their theses were due. The issue appears to have been caused by the automatic reset of the Student ID system on February 23, which cleared 2017 Read more...

University Cracks Down on Initiations

Posted 6:01pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

17 people in 2017 were excluded from University for initiation related events, including nine people from the Debacle initiation that got significant media attention last year, which the ODT called “sadistic”. In comparison, in 2016 and in 2015 not a single person was disciplined for Read more...

THERE HAS BEEN A CRIME!

Posted 5:59pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Erin Broughton

A video that surfaced on Facebook’s ‘Cool Skit Group’ showed the first ever glimpse of famous vandal Banksy in the flesh, as he made his mark on a DCC commissioned powerbox artwork advertising Dunedin sound band The Chills. Banksy has long been known for his interest in justice, Read more...

Embers of Couch Fire Culture Pissed Out by Uni

Posted 5:57pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Couch burning, once so prevalent you couldn’t open your front door without seeing at least three smouldering sofas, a few charred armchairs and an oxidising ottoman, is on the decline. In 2017, 24 fire-related incidents were dealt with by the Proctor, compared with 70 fire-related incidents Read more...

The Otago Student Living in a Boat

Posted 5:56pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Esme Hall

Where are you flatting this year? Otago Uni student Malcolm Jones is living on a boat. His boat, the Sea Witch, has a tiny kitchen, a fold-out table, two seats and space to sleep in the bow. There’s a 100W solar panel for lighting, a small coal burner for cold nights, a methylated spirits Read more...

Otago Student Involved in Russell McVeagh Scandal

Posted 5:55pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Esme Hall

Top-tier law firm Russell McVeagh, and the law profession in general, has faced criticism after complaints from students of sexual harassment by lawyers have come to light in the past weeks. The initial incidents reported by Newsroom occurred two years ago when two older male lawyers perpetrated Read more...

James Shaw Talks Speight’s, Three-Ways, and Avoiding Political Roadkill

Posted 5:53pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Esme Hall

After losing his co-leader just before the 2017 general election, James Shaw was tasked with leading his party alone on a quixotic journey from outsiders to governors. Rather than riding in on a green wave, the party limped across the line, just squeezing above the 5% threshold required to keep Read more...

Opinion: National Made the Boring Choice

Posted 5:51pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Swaine Chan

As Labour’s poll numbers rocket up to 48%, National has elected Simon Bridges as their new Leader, in an attempt to resuscitate both their polling and their chances for the next election. Sadly, moderate candidate Amy Adams missed out. Adams doesn’t put herself up high just because Read more...

Teams I Hate and Why You Should Hate Them Too : The Chiefs

Posted 5:48pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Charlie Hantler

In 1996, something so unbelievably disgusting, so morally reprehensible, and just fucking shit, was created. The Super 12. It had the makings of a great competition, combining teams from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. It could have been great, but they made one simple mistake. They Read more...

Editorial | Do Not Put Fruit or Vegetables Up Your Bum

Posted 4:42pm Saturday 3rd March 2018 by Joel MacManus

Last week we published an article about a charity fruit and vegetable scheme run by the Anglican Church. It’s a really great scheme run by amazing volunteers dedicated to bringing you super cheap food. You should totally get on down and sign up. In the header of the article (which was added Read more...

Breakdown of Exec Drama

Posted 12:50pm Monday 26th February 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Editor’s Comment: Over the last three weeks, rather than putting their time to productive use, your elected representatives on the OUSA executive have been preoccupied with petty bullshit, infights and arguing.   President Caitlin Barlow-Groome made a minor mistake. She apologised. Read more...

Someone Stole an Ambulance Last Night and Drove it for 40 Minutes Before they got Caught

Posted 8:59am Monday 26th February 2018 by Joel MacManus

O Week 2018 ended with a bang after some loose unit in South Dunedin stole an ambulance and led police on a high speed for almost 40 minutes before they got caught. According to police, the ambulance was stolen at around 11pm and was stopped by road spikes which were set up around Read more...

Opinion: OUSA Exec already drowning in petty bullshit

Posted 4:45pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Joel MacManus

Over the last three weeks, rather than putting their time to productive use, a number of your elected representatives on the OUSA Executive have been preoccupied with petty bullshit, infighting and personal grudges. They’re wasting the student services fee that you pay, and, frankly, Read more...

The Cook Re-opens Under New Managment

Posted 4:44pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Esme Hall

On the corner of Albany and Great King Street, a Dunedin legend has lain dormant. Until now. Kicking off with a Connan Mockasin gig on February 2nd, the Captain Cook Hotel has officially re-opened under the management of Michael McLeod. The Captain Cook Hotel was established in 1860. Hopefully Read more...

Fruit and vegetable scheme brings students heavily discounted food

Posted 4:41pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Sarahmarie Innes

The non-profit All Saints’ fruit and veges scheme is trying to get cheap fruit and veg to people in Dunedin. The scheme puts everyone’s money together and buys produce in bulk from a wholesaler, making it cheaper for the individual. The price also stays low because the produce is Read more...

CPTPP Protest Outside the Convocation Ceremony

Posted 4:39pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Sinead Gill

It’s the Monday of O-Week. A storm is headed towards Forsyth Barr Stadium, not quite as forceful as Gita, but just as dreaded. A storm of freshers. The PM Cindy Ardern herself is making a speech to the 4000 fresh faces. Despite spending their first night of O-Week bored shitless and sober, Read more...

Re:Fuel Rebrands as UBar

Posted 4:36pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Re:Fuel has been rebranded UBar under new management; the name Re:Fuel was apparently the copyright of the last manager. Adrian Lowrey, UBar’s new manager, emphasises that UBar will provide the same service as Re:Fuel. “Essentially nothing has changed apart from the name. UBar will Read more...

10 Aggressively Bold Sports Predictions For 2018

Posted 4:34pm Saturday 24th February 2018 by Charlie Hantler

It’s a true pleasure to be bringing you the shittiest sports chat in the country for another year. It’s been a huge summer for sport, with Fed confirming himself as the men’s tennis GOAT, the Black Caps pasting some mediocre opposition, and the big dogs in leagues such as the NBA Read more...

These Scarfies Planted a Rice Paddy In Their Flooded Backyard

Posted 9:48am Friday 2nd February 2018 by Joel MacManus

A group of students in a South Dunedin flat took advantage of the flooding that filled their backyard yesterday by planting what they believe to be Dunedin’s first rice paddy.   Flatmates Siana Fitzjohn, Charlie Montague, and Harry Young said their new paddy was not only a new Read more...

Jacinda Ardern is Pregnant. Mark Richardson was still wrong.

Posted 12:26pm Friday 19th January 2018 by Esme Hall

All pre-election questions about 37-year-old PM’s baby plans came into a new light after she made the announcement on Instagram and Facebook this morning.   2017 saw Ardern go from Labour MP, to Leader of the Opposition, to Prime Minister, and 2018 will see her become a Mum. In Read more...

Tui Catch a Million Catch Zone Will Include 70% of the Embankment at University of Otago Oval

Posted 2:42pm Friday 12th January 2018 by Joel MacManus

The majority of the embankment at the University of Otago Oval in Dunedin will be set aside as a “catch zone” for the iconic Tui Catch-a-Million promotion, with 30% set aside as a family zone where catches will not be eligible for prize money, according to Tui Brand manager Jonathan Read more...

Chase & Status, Young Thug, Peking Duk to Headline O Week 2018

Posted 12:10pm Thursday 11th January 2018 by Joel MacManus

English drum and bass duo Chase & Status are set to bring their high energy set to North Dunedin as the Headline Act for O Week.   Chase and Status are Will Kennard, Saul Milton and MC Rage. They are one of the most successful British bands of the past decade. Their ground-breaking Read more...

University to Close Centre for Material Sciences Despite Student Opposition

Posted 4:30pm Tuesday 12th December 2017 by Joel MacManus

The Centre for Material Sciences and Technology at the University of Otago has been disestablished following a 16-3 vote at the University Council. Outgoing OUSA President Hugh Baird was one of just three council members to vote against shutting the programme down. The Centre promoted Read more...

Student Association Confirms Being a Student Is Still Worse Than Being Unemployed

Posted 4:06pm Tuesday 28th November 2017 by Charlie O’Mannin

Jonathan Gee, the President of the New Zealand University Students’ Association (NZUSA), has taken issue with the National Party’s recent attack on the government's proposed $50 a week increase to the student allowance, arguing that National’s numbers do “not show the Read more...

Students Ditch First Past the Post for OUSA Elections

Posted 5:21pm Monday 20th November 2017 by Joel MacManus

From 2018 onwards, OUSA elections will be held using Preferential Voting, replacing the old system of First Past The Post. The change comes after students voted overwhelmingly for a constitutional change in the October 2017 OUSA referendum.   Of the 1350 students who took part in the Read more...

Totally Execrable

Posted 1:32pm Friday 3rd November 2017 by Joe Higham

After the usual formalities of OUSA Executive meetings, the group began with a discussion around the establishment of an ‘Internship Coordinator Position’, a proposal for which describes it as a 20 hour a week, fixed term, position to begin ideally from “early next year [but] could Read more...

Totally Execrable

Posted 11:07am Tuesday 17th October 2017 by Joe Higham

The ongoing debate over whether OUSA’s ‘Executive Travel Expense Policy’ is too frugal continued into Tuesday’s meeting, as Administrative Vice President William Guy reported back on the travel policies of other students’ association executives across New Zealand. Read more...

Kabbadi for Dummies

Posted 11:43am Sunday 8th October 2017 by Charlie Hantler

One of the greatest sports of all-time has burst onto the world scene in recent years. Every year around June the sporting world gets really shit - The NBA, NFL and NHL are all in their off-seasons, while baseball is enjoying its stupid mid-year break. All us sports nuts are stuck with two options Read more...

France’s State of Emergency Becomes Permanent

Posted 11:36am Sunday 8th October 2017 by George Elliott

In response to the spectre of terrorist attacks, France has made its current legal exceptions permanent, kicking the judiciary out of the process and expanding warrantless practices. A state of emergency has been in place since November 2015, when hundreds were killed or wounded in a coordinated Read more...

Critic Interviews: OUSA President Hugh Baird

Posted 11:13am Sunday 8th October 2017 by Joe Higham

OUSA President Hugh Baird speaks to Critic about what the successes and failures of his presidency, whether he considered running again, and his advice for President-elect Caitlin Barlow-Groome. Joe Higham: How different was the year from what you had expected it to be when you were in Read more...

5 Star Hotel Declined but Developer Not Giving Up

Posted 11:07am Sunday 8th October 2017 by Joel MacManus

A controversial proposal by Tekapo businessman Anthony Tosswill to build a new five star hotel in the Centre City has been rejected by a panel of independent commissioners, but the developer says he isn’t giving up, and hopes to put forward a revised plan soon. The original proposal was for Read more...

OUSA Election Report Details Complaints of Discounted Chocolates, Harassment, and Media Bias

Posted 11:04am Sunday 8th October 2017 by Joe Higham

The OUSA Executive Elections had their fair share of controversy, and although Critic promised that we’d stopped talking about it, we lied. That’s because Kyla Mullen, OUSA’s Returning Officer for the election, has released her report, detailing the complaints she received and Read more...