Archive
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...
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