Archive
A Response from Tim Fowler, Chief Executive of the Tertiary Education Commission
Posted 1:19pm Sunday 9th July 2023 by Critic
I read Zak Rudin’s Critic Te Ārohi article with interest (‘MINOR CONFUSION! Announcement elicits fears’). As the person who apparently said several things quoted, I want to set the record straight, as a number of comments have been misinterpreted, conflated and confused in the Read more...
Okay, Now That Landlord Website is Really Shut Down
Posted 12:59pm Sunday 9th July 2023 by Nina Brown
A website detailing how many properties your landlord owns has been shut down following discourse with the Deputy Privacy Commissioner. The founders of the website believe this decision was “influenced by landlords and property developers”. A press release from the founders Read more...
Science Communication Department Fears the Axe
Posted 12:54pm Sunday 9th July 2023 by Nina Brown
Disclaimer: The author of this article is a postgraduate science communication student. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple months, you’ll be well aware of the financial shitshow ($60 million deficit) that has forced Otago Uni to make some Read more...
Greenie Grandma Found Guilty
Posted 12:52pm Sunday 9th July 2023 by Nina Brown
Local greenie grandma Rosemary Penwarden was found guilty of forgery by a recent Dunedin High Court trial. Rosemary sent a fake letter in 2019 to attendees of an oil conference in Queenstown telling them it had been postponed due to the climate crisis. Though the letter was meant to be satirical, Read more...
Science Communication Department Fears the Axe
Posted 4:10pm Thursday 6th July 2023 by Nina Brown
Disclaimer: The author of this article is a postgraduate science communication student. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple months, you’ll be well aware of the financial shitshow ($60 million deficit) that has forced Otago Uni to make some serious Read more...
Correction from Tim Fowler
Posted 9:28am Tuesday 13th June 2023 by Fox Meyer
This letter was sent on May 31, 2023, and has been copied below exactly as it was written. Tēnā koe Fox, I read Zak Rudin’s Critic Te Ārohi article with interest (MINOR CONFUSION! Announcement elicits fears). As the person who apparently said several things quoted, I want Read more...
SHOCKING! OUSA’s General Meeting Met Quorum!
Posted 6:32pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Nina Brown
Last Monday was the OUSA Annual General Meeting and, contrary to the expectations of most, it actually went ahead. AGMs need 0.5% of the student body to show up to go ahead (called quorum) and the final head count was 106 - a whole one member over the bare minimum! Hosting the meeting during Auahi Read more...
“Scandalous”: $355 Million for Tertiary Sector Reappropriated
Posted 6:29pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Fox Meyer
Otago Uni Associate Professor Brian Roper claims that $355 million budgeted towards tertiary education is going unspent. This is enough money to bail out Otago, Vic, Canterbury, and Massey universities almost three times over. Each. And it was literally in the 2022 budget. Seriously, these documents Read more...
EXCLUSIVE: Capping Show Review
Posted 6:11pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Zak Rudin
It’s that time of year again. Critic Te Ārohi joined around 200 (that’s double last year's opening! Wow!) students, parents, and grandparents on opening night for the annual Capping Show. The night was complete with sex jokes, singing, dancing, mimes, free juice, and even more Read more...
FIGHT! New Group aims to Fight Cuts
Posted 6:07pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Zak Rudin
At 20 members strong, Protect Otago Action Group (or POAG) has formed to fight back against the Uni’s projected staff layoffs in light of their $60 million debt. POAG member Tyler told Critic Te Ārohi that they have a “three pronged campaign” to reversing the proposed staff Read more...
MINOR CONFUSION! Announcement Elicits Fears
Posted 6:01pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Zak Rudin
The Uni is possibly considering raising student fees to help with the $60 million funding shortfall. Brandon, President of the Ōtepoti Tertiary Education Union (TEU) branch, was at a TEU conference meeting where an announcement was made that seemed to indicate this. Tim Fowler, executive head Read more...
SILENCED! Castle Boys Speak Out
Posted 5:01pm Monday 29th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud
Love it or hate it (most likely the latter) the sound of 40cc motorcycles on Leith Street has become a fundamental aspect of second-year culture. For this, residents can thank The Castle, a flat which provides a seemingly inexhaustible source of entertainment for Leith St residents who happen to Read more...
$355 Million for Tertiary Sector Reappropriated
Posted 6:59pm Thursday 25th May 2023 by Fox Meyer
Otago Uni Associate Professor Brian Roper claims that $355 million budgeted towards tertiary education is going unspent. This is enough money to bail out Otago, Vic, Canterbury, and Massey universities. Three times. And it was literally in the 2022 budget. Seriously, these documents are public and Read more...
EXCLUSIVE: Capping Show Review
Posted 1:58pm Tuesday 23rd May 2023 by Zak Rudin
It’s that time of year again. Critic Te Ārohi joined around 200 (that’s double last year's opening! Wow!) students, parents, and grandparents on opening night for the annual Capping Show. The night was complete with sex jokes, singing, dancing, mimes, free juice, and even more Read more...
Ding-Dong-Ditchers Invade Castle Street
Posted 3:59pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Hugh Askerud
Knock-knock. Who’s there? No, it’s not your Uber Eats or your sneaky link: it’s two old men who have engaged in the slightly pathetic art of ding-dong-ditching your flat! No, your eyes do not deceive you; a pair of older gentlemen have been spotted roaming the streets of Castle Read more...
Government Announces ‘Bread and Butter’ Budget:
Posted 3:56pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Annabelle Vaughan
(The Really Short Version) Last Thursday, the Government released Budget 2023: ‘Supporting for today, building for tomorrow’. Coming ahead of the general election in October, and amidst the ever-growing cost of living, Budget 2023 has avoided Big And Scary topics like Capital Gains Read more...
OUSA Student General Meeting is Here
Posted 3:44pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Nina Brown
The OUSA annual student general meeting is this Tuesday, May 23, at 5:30pm in Auahi Ora (the new food court where Union Grill used to be). There’s also going to be a quiz night there directly afterward - with prizes! Congratulations on engaging in student politics! It’ll be happy hour Read more...
Graduation Walk Diverted by Cones
Posted 3:21pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Zak Rudin
This year’s graduation ceremony could not follow the traditional, glamorous path down George Street. Instead, the procession started at First Church and walked around to the Moray Place entrance of the Town Hall. According to a Uni spokesperson, this was due to the George Street revamp. You Read more...
Coup Leader Steps Down
Posted 3:17pm Sunday 21st May 2023 by Fox Meyer
Reid, OUSA’s Clubs and Socs Representative, is stepping down from his role. He told Critic Te Ārohi that he would be returning to his home in the USA before next semester to take up another job offer, but we think it’s probably something shadier than that. Reid has a long history Read more...
OUSA, TEU Protest Uni Cuts
Posted 3:29pm Sunday 14th May 2023 by Hugh Askerud
In a day of dual protests, OUSA members marched on the office of local Labour MP David Clark and Tertiary Education Union (TEU) members headed to the Clocktower. University admin received plenty of blame for their current financial woes, but most critiques and calls for action were directed at Read more...
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