Archive

Breaking In, Throwing Up

Posted 5:21pm Sunday 25th May 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet

A Roslyn flat got more than they bargained for on a quiet Friday night when a drunk student broke into their home, took off his shoes, and vomited into a flatmate's hamper – all while apologising profusely. Daniel, a recent PhD grad (yes, Doctor Daniel) had been asleep in bed when he Read more...

Mould-Mapping North D

Posted 4:52pm Sunday 25th May 2025 by Hunter Jolly

Last week, the Tenancy Compliance and Investigation Team (TCIT) did the rounds of North-D flats. The government-run team sieged (door-knocked) flats to check that they are complying with the Residential Tenancies Act 1986. In other words, to check whether students have been slumming it in Read more...

Political (In)Action Committee?

Posted 10:52pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

Amnesty Youth Otago (AYO) and the Politics Students Association (POLSA) have expressed concern to Critic Te Ārohi over OUSA’s new Political Action Committee (PAC), citing worries about inclusion and representation. PAC is supposedly a committee formed to assist Political Rep Jett Read more...

Marine Science Students Refunded After Unfair Paper Charges Revealed

Posted 10:49pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

In great news for Mako Mermaid fans-turned-students, MARI403 students have been refunded the $267.89 more they were paying for the exact same paper as ECOL411 students. This comes after Critic reported on the disparity last week, thanks to a tip-off from ECOL411 student and OUSA Academic Rep Stella Read more...

Exec SLASHES 82% of Referendum Questions

Posted 10:43pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Nina Brown

After begging students to submit questions for the biannual OUSA referendum, the Exec has slashed the final list of 103 questions to just 19. Students will soon be invited to flex their democratic muscles and vote a hearty “yes”, disapproving “no” or an apathetic “I Read more...

The Heavy Breathers Are Back, Baby

Posted 10:40pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Tilly Rumball-Smith

In 2023, a group of 33 third-year boys, calling themselves the ‘Heavy Breathers’, raised 100k to support men’s mental health. The Breathers ran the Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon, donating their proceeds to mental health charity Spark That Chat. And for 2025, they’re back. Read more...

Capping Show Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Nazi Jokes

Posted 10:38pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Hanna Varrs, Molly Smith Soppet, Iris Hehir & Ellie Bennett

Warning: Semi-spoilers for Capping Show included.  Critic Te Ārohi braved the rain and headed along to the opening of this year’s Capping Show, dressed to the nines (in our old hall merch – opening night was fresher-themed) and ready for a hilarious night.  The Read more...

The Saltiest Pretzel Stick CONSPIRACY

Posted 10:33pm Sunday 18th May 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff

Ahh the pretzel stick. A delicacy for 5-year-olds with the finest taste. A lunchbox snack that your friends would always ask for a share of. A crispy, salted delight in stick form; it’s genius. Well, if you were looking for another reason to hate capitalism, this is it. The beloved pretzel Read more...

Op-Ed: Otago Community holding Congress to adopt the Otago Declaration on Palestine

Posted 3:38pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Staff for Palestine

On Thursday 15th May at 12pm staff, students and alumni from the University of Otago community are coming together to adopt a Declaration that supports Palestinian rights and adopts BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction). All staff, students and alumni are invited to join us as we come together to stand Read more...

Radio One’s Racket for NZ Music Month

Posted 3:28pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Hanna Varrs

The month of May is upon us, and as is Music Month across the motu – a time of year that has its roots firmly intertwined with student media. That’s a lot of M’s.  The pioneers of Music Month are our radio stations, which consistently lift the bar in promoting Aotearoa Read more...

A Tale of Twin, Differently Priced Papers

Posted 3:26pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

It’s a tale of two papers: ECOL411 (Reading Ecology) and MARI403 (Critical Thinking for Environmental Scientists). Both papers are more similar than they may seem at first: same course coordinator, assessments and taught together at the same time, in the same room. So what’s the Read more...

Unattended Pot Teaches Lesson in Fire Safety

Posted 3:24pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Cailin Williams

Waking up to a group of hot, sweaty men in uniform does not sound like something one might be opposed to, though the high chance of suffocation from smoke inhalation may change your mind. Second-year Dundas-dweller Zara experienced something that can only be found in a plot of a Colleen Hoover book Read more...

Ōtepoti’s Largest Trans-Rights Protest

Posted 3:07pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

Hundreds gathered in the Octagon on the 3rd of May in a loud, proud, and unrelenting show of solidarity against New Zealand First’s proposed gender definition bill. It was reportedly Ōtepoti’s largest ever trans-rights protest, with rainbow umbrellas against drizzly weather giving a Read more...

Uni To Maintain Institutionally Neutral, Adopt Ethical Policy

Posted 3:04pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Nina Brown

The long-awaited results of a University working group on institutional neutrality are out. The University of Otago announced last week that they will be accepting the recommendations of the group’s 25 page report to adopt a statement on institutional neutrality (dubbed “vague and Read more...

Amnesty Forum Sparks Urgent Conversations

Posted 3:01pm Sunday 11th May 2025 by Ella Grayson

On April 14, Amnesty Youth Otago hosted a dynamic forum in the Business School – titled “People Power Movement: Youth Criminal Justice and Youth Activism”. The talk drew students, advocates, and change-makers into a discussion on the future of justice and equity. Amnesty Read more...

“Intimidating” and Possibly Haunted Portraits Removed from Med School

Posted 10:14pm Sunday 4th May 2025 by Adam Stitely

The removal of portraits depicting former Obstetrics (the medical speciality of childbirth and postpartum), Gynaecology and Women’s Health Heads of Departments from the Med School has caused rumours to circulate. A little birdy told Critic Te Ārohi that some students had found them Read more...

Ōtepoti Outrage at NZ First “Transphobic” Bill

Posted 10:03pm Sunday 4th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

New Zealand First has submitted a members’ bill to the Parliamentarian biscuit tin that would define the meaning of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ to mean “an adult human biological male” and a “adult human biological female” respectively within the Read more...

Rising Stars Team Up With Dunedin Youth Orchestra

Posted 10:00pm Sunday 4th May 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

Three young Dunedinites are set to grace the stage of Ōtepoti’s Town Hall on May 16th, alongside the local legends that are the Dunedin Youth Orchestra. Aptly taking place during New Zealand’s music month, the night will feature two parts – a programme from the Youth Read more...

Spilling The (Bubble) Tea: Why Was Chatime Closed?

Posted 9:58pm Sunday 4th May 2025 by Hanna Varrs

The campus branch of iconic bubble tea vendor ‘Chatime’ is rumoured to have been closed due to the Uni’s disposable cup policy, sparked by a UoO ‘Meaningful Confessions’ Facebook post that alleges the “stupid university sustainability people” won’t Read more...

Student Climate Activist Summoned to Court

Posted 9:37pm Sunday 4th May 2025 by Nina Brown

Many students take advantage of the Easter Break for a Central Otago roadie, an extortionately priced flight home to the Easter bunny (Mum and Dad), or to hole up in the library and catch up on assignments – all noble causes. In a more bespoke use of their break, a handful of Otago students Read more...