Archive
Youth Political Parties as Members of Your Group Project
Posted 10:17pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic
Upon arriving at the Link, I realised that all of the youth political parties lined up for Clubs Day were just a bunch of people in an awkward group project. The assignment is to get the youths to vote come September. And, just like in a group project, none of them seemed to know what they’re Read more...
Criminal Charges, Expulsion “Threatened” if Agnew Residents Host Flat Party
Posted 10:16pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Erin Gourley
The Campus Cop told a flat on Agnew Street that they could face criminal charges and be expelled from the University if they hosted a party in their flat. The Campus Constable, John Woodhouse, emailed one of the flatmates on 7 August stating that “the holders of such an event may be liable Read more...
OUSA Advocates For More Gender Identities In Stats NZ
Posted 10:10pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Fox Meyer
In addition to “male” or “female”, OUSA is advocating for Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) to include “another gender” and “no gender” when listing genders on census documents. They have submitted these suggestions to the Sex and Gender Identity Read more...
Otago Uni Loses Dietitian Programme Accreditation
Posted 10:08pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Sinead Gill
Otago’s Master of Dietetics (MDiet) programme has suspended new enrolments because they have lost their accreditation. Students who are already enrolled in MDiet will be able to complete this degree. The NZ Dietitians Board notified Otago Uni that they would lose their accreditation Read more...
Lockdown, Part Two: Isolation Boogaloo
Posted 10:07pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Fox Meyer
At an impromptu announcement at 9:15pm, August 11, Jacinda and Ashley Bloomfield broke the news that Covid-19 has resurfaced in the community. It takes the form of one cluster: four family members. Aotearoa resumes lockdown protocol. As of publishing, Auckland will be at Level 3 until Read more...
Dumpster Fire Breaks Out in Dunedin News Facebook Page
Posted 10:06pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Fox Meyer
Last week, Dunedin News admin Daryl Taylor convened a heavy Facebook debate on an article about a Dunedin man being acquitted of rape. The article in question named the accused, Michael Fraser, but did not name the two women who accused him of rape. Daryl linked the ODT article with the caption Read more...
Is Your Flat a Piece of Shit? Signs Point to Yes
Posted 8:44pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Annabelle Vaughan
In just one day, the Dunedin Tenancy Tribunal ordered $7040 of compensation for two groups of student tenants who had their flats disrupted by construction work. Critic spoke to the two groups about what the process was like. One group of tenants, who flat on Leith Street, took Edinburgh Realty Read more...
“Lack of Empathy”: Lecturer’s Quora Posts Made Students Uncomfortable
Posted 8:38pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Erin Gourley
Content warning: suicide, shootings. Luke Schneider, a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Canterbury, implied that beneficiaries should commit suicide, wrote about why he would “shoot to kill” in a riot to protect private property, and suggested that a virus Read more...
Beer Pong Tournament Attracts Brotherhood of Punters
Posted 8:29pm Thursday 13th August 2020 by Oscar Paul
On August 9, the Landers Army - the official fanpage for the Highlanders - hosted the inaugural Beer Pong Masters at Starter Bar. Teams of two played for the rights to be Dunedin’s Best Team, and to head up to Auckland to demolish those northern fuckwits at the best sport ever Read more...
PSYC SOC Targeted by Facebook Scammers
Posted 10:42pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Kaiya Cherrington
The Otago Students’ Psychology Society (PSYC SOC) has been targeted by scammers trying to sell unauthorized Wine and Cheese tickets using fake Facebook accounts. PSYC SOC advertised their Wine and Cheese night during late July, to be held on Thursday 13 August at IBs. The event Read more...
Man Floor-Sucked Own Piss in the Zoo
Posted 10:40pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Sophia Carter Peters
During the 2 August rugby match at Forsyth Barr, the tragic loss of the Highlanders to the Blues was briefly interrupted with a student literally drinking his own piss. In the middle of the Zoo, a little before halftime, a breatha unzipped his pants and peed onto the seat in front of him. Read more...
OPINION: Crunchy Peanut Butter is the Best Type of Peanut Butter
Posted 10:39pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Annabelle Vaughan
Crunchy peanut butter is the superior type of peanut butter, and if you disagree with that, then you should take a good, hard look at yourself. There are some big issues going on in the world, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for debate about peanut butter. Usually, I Read more...
Landlord “Nit-Picking” to Keep Bonds from Tenants
Posted 10:36pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Erin Gourley
A lost kitchen sink plug, dirty chairs, blown light bulbs, and a missing oven knob were among the reasons a Dunedin landlord claimed her tenants should not get their bond back. Since August 2016, Karen Brown has appeared in 31 orders from the Tenancy Tribunal and one District Court case Read more...
No Visa Applications For International Students
Posted 10:22pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Sinead Gill
From 10 August, applications for “most visitor, work and student visas” will be suspended for three months. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) announced this change in their 31 July update. The suspension means that tertiary students who have been studying online from their home countries Read more...
OUSA Reviewing Clubs for “Inappropriate Behaviour”
Posted 10:18pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Erin Gourley
OUSA has begun a review aiming to understand and deal with inappropriate behaviour within affiliated clubs. OUSA’s CEO, Debbie Downs, listed several aims for the review. “To understand the extent of inappropriate behaviour within OUSA-affiliated Clubs and Societies,” is the Read more...
Discussion of China Could “Endanger” Auckland Students
Posted 10:16pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by James Joblin
A lecturer advised students taking PHIL105: Critical Thinking at the University of Auckland not to discuss issues that are controversial for the Chinese government, because of a risk of danger from “Chinese governmental agents”. The course is taught on two campuses in mainland China, as Read more...
Putting the “Toxic” in “Intoxication”
Posted 10:11pm Thursday 6th August 2020 by Fox Meyer
Alcohol is a chemical drug, and our bodies are biological machines. When you put too much of that drug into your body, it becomes difficult for the machine to function properly. And even though our bodies process alcohol subconsciously, there are a few decisions you can make to help your Read more...
Discussion of China Could “Endanger” Auckland Students
Posted 5:14pm Wednesday 5th August 2020 by James Joblin
A lecturer advised students taking PHIL105: Critical Thinking at the University of Auckland not to discuss issues that are controversial for the Chinese government, because of a risk of danger from “Chinese governmental agents”. The course is also taught on two campuses in mainland Read more...
OUSA Did “Nothing” About Alleged Sexual Assault in 2009
Posted 1:43pm Sunday 2nd August 2020 by Sinead Gill
Content warning: sexual violence, murder. The alleged perpetrator of a sexual assault in 2009 continued to work at OUSA for years after the complaint was brought to them. OUSA still does not have a sexual misconduct policy, despite telling the complainant that they were developing a similar Read more...
Vending Machines Breakdown on Campus
Posted 10:21pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Jack Gilmore
Just like Health Scis, the vending machines in the Link have been suffering from multiple breakdowns over the past two weeks. Critic has noticed five vending machine breakdowns over the past two weeks. In a statement, a spokesperson for the University said: “There has been an issue lately Read more...
The Climb: An Investigation into the Most Efficient Way to Get Up the Richardson Building
Posted 10:19pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Annabelle Vaughan
The Richardson Building is one of Otago’s most iconic pieces of architecture. It is obscenely tall and radiates an obnoxious amount of big dick energy. However, it’s also one of the most challenging, harrowing and exhausting buildings to climb up. Getting to class in Richardson is Read more...
“Sophia Charter” Signed to Make Student Parties Less Risky
Posted 10:16pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
The University of Otago and Sophia Crestani’s parents hope to see permanent changes in the student community as a result of The Sophia Charter. The Sophia Charter is named after Sophia Crestani, an Otago student who died during a flat party in October last year. The Charter aims to make Read more...
Is Sal’s really the 22nd best pizza in the world?
Posted 10:13pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Phillip Plant
The following is one man’s (who may actually just be a butch lesbian in disguise) account of Critic’s least significant investigation to date. You may be shocked, you may be horrified, you may be disgusted, but no matter what you feel, please keep reading because I worked really hard on Read more...
Student Votes Split Between Labour and Green
Posted 10:06pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Fox Meyer
Otago Uni students can’t decide how far left they want to lean. Colmar Brunton sampled only 0.00031% of the eligible voting population for their national poll, so Critic beat their standard by sampling 52 students to get this data, or 0.0029% of students at Otago (almost 10x more Read more...
PSA: On-Campus Food Gets Discounted in the Afternoon
Posted 10:00pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Jackson Burgess
Food available at cafes and restaurants on campus is cheaper towards the end of the day. A Critic reporter was pleasantly surprised to discover that their sandwich cost $2.50 rather than $5.00. Saint David’s cafe, Albany Cafe and other university-owned cafes all offer different deals to Read more...
Students Struggling To Pay International Fees
Posted 9:57pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by James Joblin
International students facing financial hardship feel that Pūtea Tautoko does not address their needs. “I spend more on tuition fees than anything else,” said Syd*. The funds available to help international students provide living costs, but avoid the expensive international Read more...
Rental Properties Alarmingly Expensive
Posted 9:42pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Kaiya Cherrington
Student flats are being advertised on Facebook by private landlords requesting as much as $270 per room for a typical shared flat. Facebook groups such as Otago Flatting Goods, Otago Buy Sell and Trade, and Dunedin Rentals have had private landlords advertising their properties for students Read more...
OUSA to Adopt Bill and Bill
Posted 9:41pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic
The first working day after our beloved Bills returned to the University campus from their alleged ab-duck-tion, OUSA began the process of informally adopting our gay icons. According to OUSA Welfare and Equity Representative Michaela Waite-Harvey, the Executive are currently Read more...
New OUSA Clubs and Socs Representative Elected
Posted 9:39pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Sinead Gill
702 students have elected their new Clubs and Socs representative for OUSA - Dushanka Govender. Dushanka was “kind of” surprised by the win. She told Critic, “everyone who ran was so capable and experienced, anyone would have done a good job in the role”. OUSA elections Read more...
Ransom Paid to 'Attacker' Who Potentially Stole Otago Alumni Information
Posted 12:43pm Thursday 30th July 2020 by Sinead Gill
A data security breach from May of this year may include information on Otago Alumni. The breach has since been contained following Blackbaud's negotiation and ransom settlement with "the attacker". According to an email sent to Otago Alumni, Blackbaud (not to be Read more...
Happy 130th birthday OUSA, have a tree
Posted 2:12pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Fox Meyer
OUSA celebrated its 130th birthday by doing what any 130-year-old would do: planting a tree. However, in an unexpected and ghastly turn of events, the poor baby was forced to stand naked in Union Lawn for five days, an activity I’ve only ever done by choice. The tree was planted on Wednesday 8 Read more...
First Person to Vomit Inside The Maharajas Speaks Out
Posted 2:10pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Oscar Paul
Popular BYO restaurant The Maharajas have survived their first in-house vomit. The vomit, which occurred at 9:15pm on Friday 17 July, broke The Maharajas’ massive three year streak of puke-less student BYO curry nights. "I had two bongs before I came to dinner and my flatmate pressured Read more...
Below Average Pay for Summer Studentships
Posted 2:09pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
Students working summer studentships at the University of Otago felt that they had to choose between fair pay and academic experience. Some students believe that the academic experience earned was worth it. Some students received pay as low as $10 per hour worked in the summer of 2018 and Read more...
Student Safety Policy to be Released in Light of Sophia Crestani’s Death
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
“The Sophia Charter”, a policy named after Sophia Crestani and developed by the University, will be signed into effect this Wednesday. The Charter is named after Sophia Crestani, the Otago student who died at a flat party in October of last year. “Full details will be Read more...
Dedicated Campus Queer Space Faces Further Delay
Posted 2:06pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Naomii Seah
The University of Otago still doesn’t have a dedicated queer space, despite the promises made about the space by the OUSA Exec back in 2019. Finding a queer space on campus has been a talking point for the OUSA Executive since late 2018, when then-Welfare Officer Abigail Clark began Read more...
CRITIC TANGENTIALLY TAKES OVER PART OF SALIENT AND MASSIVE MAGAZINES
Posted 2:02pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Sinead Gill
Planet Media, the advertising department for OUSA, has taken on an 8-month trial run of managing the sales the student magazines for Victoria and Massey Universities, Salient and Massive. The three incredibly dashing young men behind Planet Media help Critic with our ad revenue and are Read more...
OPINION: Fuck Sexual Violence, and Fuck Anyone Who Thinks it is Excusable
Posted 1:57pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Kayli Taylor
Content warning: sexual violence. The University of Otago is 151 years old, and has likely seen 151 years of sexual violence and abuse on campus. The most recent allegations against Josh Smith, former OUSA Clubs and Societies representative and president of the Dunedin Fire and Circus Club, are Read more...
Series of Evacuations on Campus Inconveniences Some Students
Posted 1:55pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Annabelle Vaughan
Evacuations on campus caused a slight inconvenience for students, and is potentially karma for their eaerness to be on campus this early in the semester. St Dave’s was evacuated on Friday, then Central Library on Saturday, and Mellor Lab was evacuated on Wednesday, all within the span of a Read more...
Bye Bi Birdie?
Posted 1:52pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Fox Meyer
DOC is still to confirm whether Bird Rescue Dunedin (BRD) released the Bills, but it appears that, yes, our darling ducks were relocated to Tomahawk Lagoon. Cue our collective tears. In case you’ve missed it, our resident queer icons recently got in trouble for a brunch date at Kiki Beware. Read more...
Campus-Wide Reports of Sketchy Door-Knockers
Posted 1:51pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Fox Meyer
Two young men have been knocking on North Dunedin doors and asking if any men live in the flat who would like to take part in their religious or University survey. They have reportedly been doing this door-knocking since as early as 6 July. It’s a bit sus, but might not be anything Read more...
DCC Keeps Promises Like Your High School Boyfriend
Posted 1:42pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Fox Meyer
The DCC say they are doing their best, having made six promises and upholding only one. One year ago, the group that represents students (OUSA) delivered a list of issues to the group that represents the city (DCC), and asked them to pledge their commitment to whichever of the causes they wanted Read more...
ClinicalKey Licence Cut By Uni
Posted 1:34pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
The University has decided to cut their subscription to ClinicalKey after the research database reportedly increased their license fee by “well beyond” 6%. ClinicalKey is a research database for Health Science and Science students. According to the library website, it provides Read more...
OUSA By-Election Not-Debate Not-Analysis
Posted 1:28pm Sunday 26th July 2020 by Sinead Gill
Ah. Another year, another OUSA Exec resignation, another by-election. Despite even fewer people attending this debate than ever (Critic couldn’t see any non-OUSA Execcies or staff members in attendance), all three of these candidates seem to be the most qualified for an OUSA position in Read more...
Breathas Were Nice to Bar Staff in Re-O
Posted 1:06pm Sunday 19th July 2020 by Alex Leckie-Zaharic
OMG you guys chivalry is not dead, the breathas are nice now! Bartenders report that drunk students tended to be nicer than normal over the Re-O Week. “Well, as a bartender I’m very used to pretty normal amount of verbal abuse from breathas, being cut off and slurs of poorly thought Read more...
Smith “Taking A Step Back” After Complaint of Alleged Sexual Violence
Posted 10:18pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
Content warning: sexual violence Former OUSA Clubs and Societies Representative, Josh Smith (a.k.a. Josh Smythe), was accused of sexual violence by a student in 2019. At the time, OUSA was informed of the complaint, and OUSA “understands” that a police statement was made. “A Read more...
Former Clubs and Socs Representative Accuses OUSA President of “Blatant Lie”
Posted 10:13pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Sinead Gill
After saying he resigned for personal reasons, Josh Smythe has now alleged that OUSA President Jack Manning gave him an ultimatum in a private meeting. According to Josh, he wanted to stay on as the Clubs and Societies Representative, but was told: “The only option is if you take a Read more...
Sleepovers Possible at UBS Thanks to the OUSA Exec
Posted 8:20pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Caroline Moratti
The upstairs of University Bookstore on Cumberland Street is set for revolutionary change, with the OUSA Exec voting to adopt the “accommodation option” proposed by their Finance and Expenditure Committee. Although much of the building’s development is shrouded by the Read more...
Restaurant Boom Over Re-Ori
Posted 8:19pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Jack Gilmore
According to workers in Dunedin restaurants, students turned out in droves during Re-O to support the many eating establishments in our fair city. This might explain the proportion of vomit on the streets of North Dunedin. Many restaurateurs, waiters, and cooks have reported to Critic that they Read more...
More Free Mental Health Appointments for Students from 2021
Posted 8:15pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
More students will be able to access free therapy and treatment for mental health from 2021, thanks to a $25million of funding towards mental health services for tertiary students aged 18 to 25. The funding, announced on 11 July, will target students who are mildly or moderately distressed Read more...
Cutler Told Tenants to Trash the Trash Rules
Posted 8:14pm Thursday 16th July 2020 by Erin Gourley
Matt Cutler has been advising students to put out low-cost, unmarked rubbish bags for collection, rather than the official DCC rubbish bags. “[...] With rubbish just put it in low cost bags at night - there’s collection every week day in the city. Just don’t put your mail Read more...
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