Archive

1271 Students give OUSA some satisfaction

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The 2014 OUSA Student Satisfaction Survey has revealed the general sentiment towards OUSA and the services they offer, as well as the general student impression regarding the importance and use of those services. With 1,271 student responses, the survey shows that OUSA continues to please students Read more...

Datacom(e) pay your power

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

The IT industry’s innovative ways have now extended to their recruitment process with one company offering to pay a flat’s power bill when applying for a role within their company. Datacom Systems Limited has been coming to the University’s career expos for around eight years now, but last year Read more...

Uni pays $5.5 million to "improve quality of service"

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago has spent more than $5.5 million on staff redundancies over the past four years, but has still been ranked as the 13th best place to work in the country. Figures released under the Official Information Act by the University show that 121.88 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Read more...

Queens suffers ungraceful fall from grace

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Claudia Herron

Popular Dunedin venue Queens Bar has had its application for an on-licence declined following a hearing before the Dunedin District Licencing Committee on 11 April. The decision concerned applicant Ian Robbins, of Dogtown Limited, who sought a licence after letting his expire at the end of the first Read more...

OUSA to beer competition

Posted 4:20pm Sunday 4th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane

OUSA’s Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival will this year be held on 4 October at Forsyth Barr Stadium and is set “to build on the success of last year’s event,” says OUSA General Manager Darel Hall. However, competing with the event is Matthew Black of Brighton Holdings Ltd, who assisted OUSA in Read more...

Winston Peters

Posted 2:48pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Critic: So the first thing I want to talk about is the fact that the youth vote is a sector that is untapped almost, because we have such little voter turnout. And I was wondering what sort of policies you would advocate for in order to increase the youth turnout and what you’d bring to the table Read more...

Continuing changes to student loan now include prison time

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

From 1 April 2014, Inland Revenue will be able to request an arrest warrant for borrowers who knowingly defaulted on their overseas-based repayment obligation and are about to leave New Zealand. This follows on from four years of extensive restrictions being imposed on the student loans and Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 09

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsThis week’s Greatest Hit goes to my favourite NZ politician/DJ hybrid. No, not Kim Dotcom (whose album ‘Good Times’ spurred an active Facebook campaign to get him to Starters Bar during O-Week), but Laneway alumna Jacinda Ardern. After realising her flight from Wellington to Auckland Read more...

Politweets | Issue 09

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Telling it how it is. The secret to her kiss (true). We're so sorry. Yeah Josh. Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 9

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Before I even began my interview with the mighty Winston Peters he was on great form, spotting the Photoshopped Critic image of Peter Dunne smoking a fat joint and determining, after a lengthy pause, “it’s a fake.” Say what you will about Winston, he’s one of the most famous politicians we’ve ever Read more...

Should they stay or should they go?

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the “did he go or was he pushed desk,” and it seems that the struggling rugby league convert Benji Marshall has thrown his toys again and is apparently looking to return to the NRL as soon as possible with his tail between his legs. After 10 years at the Tigers in West Sydney, Marshall Read more...

Freshers contribute to higher enrolments

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

This year has seen an overall increase in enrolment at the University, largely due to strong first year domestic growth over the past three years. It also marks the highest ever proportion of commencing students from outside of Dunedin. Over 85 per cent of students commencing at Otago are from other Read more...

Synthetic zoning causes users to lapp around

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Dunedin City Council is currently drafting legislation that may stop some retailers from selling legal highs. The Psychoactive Substances Act, which was passed by Parliament last year, gives local government bodies the ability to pass a Locally Approved Product Policy (LAPP), meaning councils Read more...

Burst pipe streams deluge onto unsuspecting nerds

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

More than half of the Central Library’s ground floor computer lab was forced out of commission during library hours after thousands of litres of water flooded the area prior to the Easter Break. A burst water pipe in the ceiling caused water to cascade from light fittings both in the Central Library Read more...

$1 million dollar microscope first in New Zealand

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University of Otago has recently paid one million dollars for a state-of-the-art microscope that will allow researchers to study the development of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. For the first time, Otago medical scientists will be able to view and analyse living Read more...

Kiwis traverse Europe with help of bobbies

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

A chaotic seven days traversing 1,000km across Europe has seen three Otago students take out a number of places among a huge group of international teams in Red Bull’s “Can You Make It” challenge. Representing the University of Otago were Tish McNicol, Finn Henry and Chessie Henry, also known as the Read more...

Execrable | Issue 9

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Zane Pocock

The Executive meeting held on 15 April was complete with guest proposals, agenda thieves, and banter on Winston Peters’ campus visit. Kicking off the meeting, guest Sue Heap spoke to her proposal for OUSA to “look into the matter of street harassment.” Proposed courses of action were to Read more...

Environmentally friendly parking tickets rolled out

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Laura Munro

The Dunedin City Council has introduced environmentally friendly receipts for 90 per cent of the 400 pay-and-display meters in the city. Replacing the previous plastic-coated tickets, the new receipts will be made from 100 per cent paper, meaning they are completely biodegradable. Community Read more...

Direct order leads to less than NORML confrontation

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

A number of confrontations between Campus Watch, the Police and Otago NORML’s 4:20 protests have left speculations rife that the University is attempting to remove the protest group from Campus. A recent incident culminated in Police almost trespassing a member of NORML after he was mistakenly Read more...

Hoyts closure corporate battle with rival Reading

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 27th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Reading Cinemas is set to open in the middle of 2014, following the unexpected closure of Hoyts last year. The ODT reported that Hoyts was forced to close because it was “unable to negotiate favourable terms” regarding the lease renewal. Further investigation, however, indicates that Hoyts’ tenancy Read more...

Floods force students to put their holidays on hold

Posted 6:48pm Friday 18th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Hundreds of Dunedin students have had to remain in the city tonight after flooding forced road closures on State Highway One, blocking the route from Maheno to Oamaru. The road is the main route from Dunedin to Christchurch. 30 kilometre-long traffic jams were reported by students returning Read more...

Students targeted by energetic beverage cult to earn millions

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

“If you could not fail, how big would you dream?” These are the words presented on Vemma’s website to entice young people to join the Vemma brand and sell Verve energy drink products. Vemma is an “ultra-premium, liquid formula that provides the vitamins, minerals and nutrients for greater health and Read more...

Young politician | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Na Terata Hikairo

What's good for Māori is good for Aotearoa. As a rangatahi representative for the Māori Party, I would like to express the values we have in the Māori Party and why they exist. Our MPs, the Hon. Tariana Turia, Hon. Pita Sharples and Te Ururoa Flavell, have worked tirelessly to Read more...

Politweets | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

#mediabias If I didn't know better, I'd question whether John was using the synthetic drugs himself. What else is on your bucket list? You and me both One of many in a series of Bridges Bashing tweets from Patrick I really want to know which Read more...

Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 08

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest hitsOn Tuesday, Tau Henare, National MP, announced that he will retire at this year’s election. This is not the greatest hit; rather it’s Tau himself, who has a twenty-year political career that can be characterised by witty retorts and an “I will say whatever I want” mentality. Starting Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 8

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

As the candidate lists come rolling in from across the spectrum, the possible Government newbies are already vying for the attention of voters across the board. With that in mind, this week’s Critic looks at five candidates to watch out for as the campaign rush begins. Hailing from a variety of Read more...

Three teams, one cup...

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the impartial but sky-blue football desk, I thought I should bring you all up to speed with this year’s epic race for the English Premier League title. Liverpool leads the way with 74 points. At the start of the season, not many experts had given Liverpool much chance as genuine title Read more...

Allen Hall old as fuck

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Laura Munro

This year marks a special occasion for the University of Otago. The Allen Hall, part of our current Archway and Clock Tower buildings, is clocking up its centennial year. Exactly 100 years ago on 7 April 1914, the building, named after Chancellor James Allen, was officially opened as Otago’s first Read more...

Monarchy cook up plan to diversify crown assets

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s recent visit to Dunedin has been revealed to be part of a wider push by the Monarchy to diversify their portfolio of investments abroad. A night of travel away from Baby George provided the Duke and Duchess with a bit of rest and relaxation in Dunedin, and an Read more...

Hooper fights fake weed "makes picnic ... not bothered"

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Emily Draper

Opponents of legal highs have gathered in protest around Dunedin in the hope of banning the sale of the drugs throughout New Zealand. While protests were held in 23 centres from Whangerei to Invercargill, Dunedin has seen large gatherings in the Octagon as well as personalised acts of protest Read more...

PIMS - Puzzling inaccuracy mystifies students

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Students were further frustrated by exam woes after the University withdrew the initial exam timetable released last week. Confusion arose after the initial schedule was released last Monday, retracted on Tuesday, then released again on Thursday. A notice, which was emailed to students and Read more...

University freeloads hospital tenancy for 30 years

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The Southern District Health Board is seeking to formalise a lease agreement with the University for the Medical Faculty’s use of Dunedin Hospital buildings amidst pressure to upgrade Hospital facilities. According to the ODT, SDHB Chief Executive Carole Heatley indicated in a report to the Board Read more...

Defending the kingdom

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Christian Hardy

In what is surely a landmark decision with regards to international environmental law, on Monday 31 March 2014, after years of protests and diplomatic disputes, the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s whaling programme in the Southern Ocean is not for scientific purposes and requested Read more...

Laura Harris victorious as OUSA Education Officer

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

This year’s first OUSA by-election has welcomed newcomer Laura Harris to the Executive in the role of Education Officer after she took out 36.09 per cent of the total votes. Harris was a clear contender for the role after a markedly articulate performance at Tuesday’s public forum, despite the Read more...

Proctology

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week in Proctology has revealed that a bit of broken glass may be good for University finances, and “slurping the suds” in the Botanic Gardens is not advised. The Proctor has said there has “been an increase” in the amount of bottle breaking going on around campus. While it “might sound nice Read more...

Dickie heats up over paddling pool of fire

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Emily Draper

The art of student couch-burning has reached new heights, according to the complaints of frustrated Woodhaugh resident Jeff Dickie. While walking his daughter to school through the Woodhaugh Gardens, Dickie was astonished to discover the remnants of a couch fire in the Gardens’ empty toddlers’ Read more...

Moana Pool blame additional membership cost on Uni

Posted 4:31pm Sunday 13th April 2014 by Emily Draper

This year’s Moana Pool Student Membership Special demanded students fork out an additional $20 to verify their status as a student. The deal, which boasts a price of $320 for nine months use of the gym and pool, or $190 for sole use of pool, requires students to provide proof of identification Read more...

$20 Million Upgrade Will See Wireless Across All Campuses and Significantly Improved Network Speeds

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The University’s Internet has for some time been plagued by criticism due to its inconsistent speeds, varying performance and general unreliability. However, a key project for Information Technology Services (ITS) this year is the overhaul and significant upgrade of the University Network and Read more...

Politweets | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

That's the banter we love from Judith. Kim Dotcom, John Dotcodotnz, now gareth.org.nz. Still unsure if this is a fake account or not, but it's funny either way. The hunt for the perfect #cheeserolls continues. This is a fake one. No idea why anyone Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsIn the spirit of iD Fashion Week, this year’s Greatest Hit goes to David Clark, who featured on local Dunedin TV for his very own modelling experience. Strutting his stuff in a beautifully made red blazer by Tamsin Cooper, David looked well at home on the catwalk. Considering fashion Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 07

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Curwen Rolinson

A great man once said that just because you might not care about politics ... was no surefire guarantee that politics doesn’t care about you. Regrettably, if you look around our politics today, it seems *exactly* like Kiwi politics doesn’t care about us. I mean, look at the choices. Labour Read more...

Critic tackles election year| Issue 7

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Carys Goodwin

In the last week and a half, Otago has been graced with the presence of two MPs – Judith Collins and Gareth Hughes. While I didn’t attend Judith’s cocktail soirée (the $30 entry fee was out of my poor student price range and it was all the way at Luna Bar), I did have a chat to Todd Dickens, chair Read more...

A Leap of Faith Into the Group of Death

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the lightweight, 3D-printed extreme sports desk and we all know that New Zealand is a popular destination for extreme sports junkies. However, for some people, bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating and flirting with Austrian backpackers in Queenstown for a weekend is just not extreme enough Read more...

Overly Keen Scarfie Makes App to Pull

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Emily Draper

A new social networking iPhone app made for Scarfies has been launched across Dunedin. The app, called KEEN, is the brainchild of Auckland University student Philip Chen, who was later joined by Canterbury student Nelson Shaw and Otago student Laxman Popli. KEEN is based around a simple premise: if Read more...

Research Leads to "Pleasing ... Sustained Excellence"

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Nina Harrap

The University has risen 20 places and remains top among New Zealand’s research institution rankings after coming 67th in the 2013 Nature Publishing Index Asia-Pacific. The index ranks nations and institutions on the number of research articles they put out each year and the number of which are Read more...

OUSA Hyde No More Tickets to Keg Party

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Josie Cochrane

General admission Hyde Street tickets sold out in record time last week, with the 1118 tickets available gone within two minutes of release. 3500 tickets were available with priority going to Hyde Street residents, their friends and residents on surrounding streets, and the remaining 1118 being sold Read more...

No Goodbye to By-Elections

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

The resignation of Education Officer Jordan Taylor has prompted the start to what promises to be another year of by-election folly. While the nominees include current Recreation Officer Henri Faulkner, which may see a shuffle around of the Executive, there are also a number of fresh faces. Should Read more...

Execrable | Issue 7

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week’s Executive meeting was more akin to a marathon, clocking in at nearly three hours long, with a disappointingly large amount of the meeting taking part in Committee of the Whole, which Critic does not have the right to report on. Despite this, Ruby competently chaired the meeting Read more...

On-License Opposed for Yet Another Dunedin Venue

Posted 4:50pm Sunday 6th April 2014 by Claudia Herron

Yet another popular Dunedin venue is risking closure after its on-licence expired and a new application was opposed by the Police and the Medical Officer of Health. Popular music venue Queens Bar at Queens Garden will face a hearing before the Dunedin District Licencing Committee on 11 April where Read more...

Fear and Loathing in Ukraine

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Mariya Semenova

One of the big things on the news in the last few months has been the protests and revolution in Ukraine, followed by the Russian annexation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea. Here I will bravely attempt to give you a crash course in that recent Ukrainian history. Having lived in New Zealand for the Read more...

Politweets | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

#cheeserolls The Internet Party might have to watch its back; the Hogwarts Party could steal a considerable chunk of the ‘nerd’ voter base Banter Novelty Hekia Parata account has really enjoyed this week’s scandal The more you know, I guess. Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsThis week has seen the rise of #nomakeupselfies across the world. Raising $3 million for cancer research, the trend has occupied Facebook, the media, and, surprisingly, Parliament. I followed Louise Upston’s no-makeup Twitter trail, with Metiria Turei and Holly Walker offering selfies Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 06

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Nyssa Payne-Harker

Do you believe that technologies such as 3D printing and solar technology have the potential to change the world and opportunities for New Zealand? Or do you want to find out more about how they could? Young Greens certainly do and this week, Tuesday 7.30pm in Moot Court, we will be welcoming Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 6

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

When it comes to election year, the Otago politics department likes to get involved. We’re only really relevant once every three years, so it’s fairly exciting to get the chance to appeal to more than eager freshers in POLS102. That’s why this week is dedicated to an Otago initiative called Vote Read more...

Bayern Munich Favourites to Make Third Final Appearance in a Row

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Daniel Lormans

To the shiny silver football desk and the UEFA Champions League, which, since 1992, has been the elite competition in European club football. Last year’s winners Bayern Munich pocketed a cool $100 million from the competition, so there is a big financial incentive to winning as well as the prestige Read more...

Influx of Influenza Flew In

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Mass Cralk

The Emergency Department at Dunedin Hospital has seen a number of people admitted who present symptoms of Bird Flu, which comes on the heels of a recent visit to Dunedin by a group of Chinese bioterrorists. Bird flu is caused by an influenza virus that originally occurs in animals and can Read more...

SJS - Sycamore Jovially Sympathises

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Laura Munro

Job-seeking tertiary students in Otago may be in for a weary hunt after student earnings, generated through Student Job Search, declined by six per cent in the early months of 2014, and overall earnings dropped by $700,000 in 2013. Total earnings of $7.353 million in 2013 were 8.6 per cent lower Read more...

Support Shows Cull Not UNESCOrted in Literature Bid

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Emily Draper

Dunedin has taken a major step in becoming New Zealand’s home of literature after Mayor Dave Cull last week sent through a bid to become a UNESCO City of Literature. UNESCO only permits one City of Literature per country, and Cull’s bid aims to establish Dunedin as just that. A successful bid Read more...

Proctology

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

Disgruntled moteliers and neighbours – and trampolines – are the latest victims of the plague of rowdy Scarfies, making this week’s Proctology look like an episode of Neighbours at War. Known to some as “The Tavern,” a student establishment in Woodhaugh has taken remembering their Read more...

Ross Creek Zombie Apocalypse Run Forecasted

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Emily Draper

The very existence of the 126,000 men, women, children and Scarfies in Dunedin is under threat; the Zombie apocalypse is on its way. 18 May will see the Walking Dead become the Running Dead in a five-kilometre obstacle course around Ross Creek Reserve designed to raise funds for the charity ChatBus, Read more...

Dunedin Renamed Shangedin, Shanghai of the South

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Thomas Raethel

The University of Otago has secured a groundbreaking relationship with a Chinese University, which is likely to grant access to China’s lucrative medical research sector. Shanghai’s Jiao Tong University consistently ranks among the top five universities within mainland China and after signing a Read more...

Noise Complaint Met With Dignified Silence

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

The filming of a carpet commercial at a View Street flat has incorrectly been associated with a number of noise complaints, despite the flat having a history of noise problems with neighbours. The ODT reported on Friday 14 March that the filming of a Godfrey Hirst Carpet Commercial at the Read more...

Females Find Faulty Floor, Fittings & Faeces In Filthy Flat

Posted 7:01pm Sunday 30th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Another story of appalling flat conditions and an inconsiderate landlord has recently faced the media spotlight, with five Dunedin students presenting the state of their flat on Campbell Live last week. The story has been strongly disputed by the flat’s landlord and ex-tenants, who say the girls’ Read more...

Letting the Monkeys Out

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

There are at least two sides to every tale … especially one spanning over several years, involving high profile business owners, a secret Facebook page and a potential police cover-up. The ODT have told one side of the story, but after Critic was given access to the private Facebook discussion group Read more...

Politweets | Issue 05

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Tau Henare goes wild with this hashtag. Clare looks towards a new dairy product for the next parliamentary drama. Green MPs target Key's memory loss. Probably not the best use of your time, Jacinda. Yes, because those two parties agree Read more...

Statistics

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Early last week, a new Herald DigiPoll was released, placing National at 50.8 per cent, Labour at 29.5 per cent, Greens at 13.1 per cent, and NZFirst at 3.6 per cent. Such polls should definitely be taken with a grain of salt, but should this translate to an election platform (disclaimer: I take no Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 05

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsOn Wednesday morning a new set of changes to the electoral law was passed. While there is considerable criticism about a number of aspects, there is a particular redeeming feature that will finally catapult our elections into modernity: now you can enrol to vote online. For those of us Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 05

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Guy McCallum

For ACT, making a difference is what we’re interested in. Not disrupting debate, like Young Labour’s twit who wrote in this column last. There are people who work for nothing, providing fine services to the vulnerable and voiceless, and he thinks making a difference is following John Key about, Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 5

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Last week, Critic’s most beloved Tertiary Education Minister opened up the university council chat once more. National has been no stranger to the evolving relationship between student participation and our university overlords, and the Education Amendment Bill (number two) is no exception. We first Read more...

I Wish I Could Play for Both Teams

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Daniel Lormans

First, let’s go to the rich mahogany rugby desk where we find lots of excuses for the Highlanders suffering an unexpected home loss to the Force last weekend. A narrow two-point loss will have knocked their confidence a bit but it was close and every cloud has a silver lining (and all those other Read more...

Execrable - Resignation & Donation | Issue 5

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week’s OUSA Executive meeting had a climatic end, with Education Officer Jordan Taylor announcing his resignation from the Executive. Critic’s last Execrable highlighted Jordan’s “sheer incompetence shown in his organising of Sex Week,” and that he was “already following a very similar pattern Read more...

BCom Student Convicted of Class B Drug Supply

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Emily Draper

A University of Otago student previously convicted of selling Ritalin to other students has had his conviction quashed in the Court of Appeal, after his co-offender was discharged without conviction after admitting to the same offence. The Court of Appeal last week revealed its decision to discharge Read more...

Go Card Makes Bus Go Far

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The recent trial of a 25 per cent discount on Dunedin bus services is “proving pretty successful” says Otago Regional Council (ORC) Chairman, Stephen Woodhead. A noticeable increase in patronage means the discount trial will continue until 30 April 2014, after which the Council will decide whether Read more...

No Chain Smoking for Queen

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Claudia Herron

NORML have further questioned the boundary of the University’s Smoke-free policy by looking to an archaic property right known as the Queen’s Chain that considers riverbanks to be public property. In his repeated attempts to “break down the policy,” Otago NORML spokesman Abe Grey contacted Read more...

Red Bull Gives Red Bull,

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Claudia Herron

Three Otago students have beat out thousands of teams from all over the world after being selected to compete in a seven-day mission across Europe using only Red Bull as currency. Red Bull Can You Make It positions 100 teams from all over the world in London, Paris, Milan and Vienna with a case of Read more...

ORC Foot $100K Footbridge

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Laura Munro

An unforeseen $100,000 is to be spent by the Otago Regional Council (ORC) on installing a temporary footbridge across the Leith as part of the flood protection works, causing further disruption to staff and students. The ORC is currently in the middle of a $5.4 million flood protection scheme in the Read more...

Periodic Relationship Tabled at AUT, Too Much for Otago

Posted 5:30pm Sunday 23rd March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Associate Professor Allan Blackman, a lecturer for Otago’s Department of Chemistry since 1991, resigned from the University in December last year to take up a position at Auckland University of Technology’s School of Applied Sciences. Earlier that year, Blackman became engaged to an Otago student Read more...

Synthetic cannabinoids

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

Psychoactive substances are the active ingredients in party pills, energy pills and herbal highs. They are like any other drug, with many people experiencing problems of addiction. The Psychoactive Substances Act commenced on 18 July 2013 and regulates the importation, manufacture and supply of Read more...

The FIFA World Cup countdown begins

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Daniel Lormans

The FIFA World Cup (don’t make me say “soccer”) returns to South America this year with hosts Brazil opening the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on 12 June. The final will be played on 13 July in Rio de Janeiro if the centrepiece Estadio do Maracana is ready. Preparations for the Read more...

Politweets | Issue 04

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

3 News reporter asks the real questions – where’s John Key’s cat? Cunliffe appears to be doing National’s job for them. Burn. Critic wonders what 1996 RWC Henare is referring to. That would be insider trading. Kevin Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 04

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitsIt was very tempting to award Greatest Hit to John Key for choosing 20 September as the election date, as a few Critic staff were recipients of healthy iPredict payouts (myself included); but in the interest of providing students with something a little better than “should’ve got on the Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 04

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Staff Reporter

I’m new to Dunedin, so naturally, I’ve gone to start my first of many years at Otago in a hall. When you arrive to your particular hall, they will most probably have a number of initiations for you; designed to break barriers, reduce homesickness, and make new friends. But there was one thing I did Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 04

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Finally, the election date has been announced: 20 September. Bring on the policy releases, campaign ads, catchy slogans, and the inevitable rhetorical fuck-ups. It’s time to cut through the empty statements about student support and “the best education ever” and see what’s actually in writing. This Read more...

NCO spells end for party

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Over half of the 382 noise complaints made to the Dunedin City Council last month were from Dunedin North, with 94 per cent of the complaints relating to noise from stereos. This is the highest number of complaints in a single month since February 2010 and coincides with the influx of students back Read more...

Ben Sherman pushes Paul Smith to Fringe

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The 2014 Dunedin Fringe Festival has arrived, with over 300 guests attending the opening Festival Gala and the Polsen Higgs Comedy Club. The Dunedin Fringe Festival, funded by the Dunedin City Council, Otago Community Trust and Creative NZ, is “an awesomely creative grassroots event that wouldn’t be Read more...

Proctology | Issue 04

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

This week in Proctology saw someone set-up Campus Watch to Police – by divulging examples of the former’s “nefarious” behaviour to the latter. A woman, who locked her keys in her car on Albany Street, was attended to by Campus Watch with “some breaking-in gear” to assist her cause. The Police were Read more...

Humanities enrolments falling mean fewer in retail

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The University has seen a 1.9 per cent decline in enrolments from 2012 to 2013, with the decline “overwhelmingly concentrated in the Division of Humanities” according to the 2013 End of Year Financial Review. The drop in humanities students accounted for 83 per cent of the overall drop in student Read more...

“No upper limit” on DCC hotel expenditure (or height)

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Dunedin City Council and Betterways Advisory Ltd, the developers of the proposed $100 million waterfront hotel. The agreement means both parties will now work together on a new design, in order to get the contentious project underway. Read more...

Inferno of injustice in archway four

Posted 2:59pm Sunday 16th March 2014 by Emily Draper

The overheating of the Archway 4 Lecture Theatre is cause for concern, a sentiment echoed by many disgruntled students and teachers who are suffering in Archway 4’s record temperatures. According to Law Lecturer Andrew Geddes, “current heat problems in Archway 4 make it an environment in which Read more...

Young Politician | Issue 03

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Staff Reporter

Liam Kernaghan was supposed to write this, but being distracted by pipe band and dancing Shetland ponies, he was too busy to meet the deadline. As his “trigger-happy puppy dog,” I get to deliver the first political sharn of 2014 – which is, ironically, the Year of the Horse. Our flat jumped Read more...

Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 03

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

Greatest HitSometimes it’s easy to get so caught up in the humdrum of menial political drama that we forget we don’t actually live in a hilarious equilibrium of MP DJs (looking at you, Jacinda) and in-the-house banter. We do have a global context, and we have a proud history of attempting to stand Read more...

Critic tackles election year | Issue 03

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Carys Goodwin

As I'm sure you all know, or at least have realised from the sharp increase in red, green, and blue-clad Tent City occupiers, it's election year – and a particularly important one at that. Our current Government has often been accused of overlooking student issues, and whether you agree with this or Read more...

If it ain't broke, another South African team should fix it

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Daniel Lormans

Have you finally gotten your head around how the Super Rugby conference system works? Well, even if you have, it is all set to change. Again. Why? Because fuck you ... that’s why. Interesting announcements and off-the-record comments have been surfacing about the possible evolution of Super Read more...

Safeassign no safe sign for cheaters

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Emily Draper

The number of students cheating at the University of Otago has risen on last year’s figures, but the rise is “not unusual” according to the University. The rise is documented in their annual report of dishonest offences, which shows there were 72 dishonest practice incidents in 2013. Despite there Read more...

Charlotte's web of deceit found out

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

A former president of the Maori Law Students’ Association has been indefinitely excluded from the University after stealing money from the Association during her presidency in 2013. Critic began investigating the incident last year but was unsuccessful in exposing the student despite fruitless Read more...

Unis to produce more skilled employees for economy

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

A five-year tertiary education strategy that focuses on enabling students to leave university with skills employers want has received bipolar reviews from the TEU and the Greens. Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce last week announced the Government would focus Read more...

Otago ranks with big minds, big words and know-it-alls

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

The University of Otago remains in the 226-250th bracket of the Times University Rankings. The rankings judge world-class universities across all of their core missions – teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook – and this year they reveal that Otago ranks highest among New Read more...

Execrable | Issue 03

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

On Monday 3 March the second OUSA Executive Meeting of the year was held. Reflection over the past two weeks revealed that the O’Week Six60 gig went “very well,” and it was expected that Tinie Tempah would draw a crowd of approximately 5500 to 6000 students, with “potentially lots of late sales.” Read more...

The Royal Hyde Street Party

Posted 4:35pm Sunday 9th March 2014 by Claudia Herron

Hyde Street Keg Party looks set to be a royal fanfare this year with the event falling on the eve of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Dunedin. Stepping up to run the event this year is Admin Vice President Ryan Edgar who said the event day planning is “absolutely” underway. Being Read more...

The great Otago drilling debate

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 2nd March 2014 by Josie Cochrane

Last year Texan company Anadarko Petroleum announced it was sending its test drill ship, the Noble Bob Douglas, into the Canterbury basin. The first step in drilling this exploratory well, situated just off the Otago coast, has been completed, but debate over whether the risk is worth it continues. Read more...