Archive

Top 5 - sportspeople who changed their sport

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

When Anna Harrison of the Northern Mystics performed the “chair lift” or “lady lineout” to reject the Melbourne Vixens shooters, she changed the game. This manoeuvre had never been performed in competitive netball before, and people didn’t know what to think. The obvious road for netball to take Read more...

Critic’s favourite Highlander is now Critic’s favourite All Black (trialist)

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

Critic’s favourite Highlander Aaron Smith has hit the big time. Just as we predicted, Smith’s form has been too good to ignore, and he has been selected for the All Blacks training squad from which the team to play Ireland will be fingered. While Aaron is not getting too excited just yet, here at Read more...

Critic pretends to give a shit about postgrads

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Josie Adams

The University of Otago will host the inaugural Postgraduate Research Conference on Power and Politics (PRCPP) on 2 – 3 July. The Conference, sponsored by the New Zealand Political Studies Association, will give postgraduate students the chance to present material from their disciplines for Read more...

Fishing in Dunedin no longer confined to Monkey Bar

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Alice McRae

The Leith River is now home to 4000 juvenile salmon, after the New Zealand Salmon Anglers Association released the fish last week to support the “put and take” system of recreational fishing in Dunedin. Salmon have been released into the Leith annually since 1984, and as a result Dunedin is Read more...

University studies coronial impotence

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

A major research study by University of Otago researchers will review whether recommendations and findings from coroners are currently being heeded to prevent further loss of life. University of Otago Faculty of Law researchers Professor Mark Henaghan and Dr Jennifer Moore will collect and Read more...

Breaking the cycle of broken cyclists

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Margot Taylor

In a move that could save the ratepayer up to $4.7 million over the next decade, the Dunedin City Council (DCC) decided last week to reallocate its road-sealing budget towards improving Dunedin’s cycleways. While a pre-draft budget created in January had initially reinstated part of the seal Read more...

Missing University of Otago employee found dead

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

The body of missing Health Science Library Team Leader David Palmer has been found after a two-week Search and Rescue operation in the Ahuriri Conservation Park. Mr Palmer’s body was located in a creek bed at the bottom of a 60m-high steep bank in the Canyon Creek area on Saturday 19 May. He Read more...

Otago Students Named Most Alternative: Wellington students weep

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

A team of University of Otago Students has won the 2012 Alternative Budget Competition. The competition, sponsored by the Independent Policy Institute, required students to develop their own national budget in the lead-up to the Government’s announcement of the 2012/2013 budget last Read more...

Edgar Woos Ladyhawke to Re-O

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

OUSA has announced the line-up for Re-Orientation 2012, which is to be held in the first week of Semester Two on 11 – 14 July. OUSA President Logan Edgar is “pretty fucking excited” about the line-up, which will include Ladyhawke, Kora, Chopper Read and Paul Ego. Re-Orientation will coincide Read more...

Alty student attempts to import Class B

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Staff Reporter

In a brazen attempt to become the coolest kid on his hall floor, an Otago student has attempted to buy ecstasy over the Internet. The 18-year-old appeared in Dunedin District Court last Tuesday, and admitted procuring the Class B drug. His lawyer has asked for an adjournment to allow for an Read more...

Zero budget provides zero funny headlines

Posted 7:40pm Sunday 27th May 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The National Government announced the 2012-2013 Budget Thursday 24 May amidst student protest against the changes to the student loan and allowance system. While Bill English’s ‘zero’ Budget was generally described as political commentators as “forgettable”, “dull” and “boring”, Auckland Read more...

New Legislation Aims to Deter Unnecessary Legislation

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

New research by the University of Otago’s Wellington branch has put a dollar value on the rampant time-wasting, political point-scoring, and other such shenanigans involved with law-making in New Zealand. According to the study, each new Act of Parliament costs an average of $3.5 million, while a Read more...

Pucking Great

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

This week we go back to talking about students doing well at sports you don’t know much about … Ice Hockey. If New Zealand were a few degrees colder ice hockey would be our national sport. Just like rugby it is rough, tough, fast and exciting. Unlike rugby, nobody gets paid. In fact even the Read more...

Four Thoughts on City Winning the Title

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

You can still buy the titleJack Walker did it for Blackburn Rovers in 1995. Roman Abramovich did it for Chelsea in 2004 and 2005. Now Sheik Mansour has done it for Manchester City. The easiest way to turn a mediocre team into Premier League Champions is to spend shitloads of money on new players. Read more...

Foreigners rejoice! Democracy for all!

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Yee Min Chua

It’s by-election time yet again! Oh yes people, yet another chance to demonstrate your zeal for practicing democracy, if you’re an international student anyway. OUSA needs a new International Student Officer, and voting is open (to international students) from 9am May 28 until 4pm June 1. It Read more...

“Find your own jobs, you lazy bums” – SJS

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Margot Taylor

Figures released by Student Job Search (SJS) this month reveal that while students who have jobs are working more hours and earning more money, it is more difficult for those students looking for jobs to gain employment through the student job matching service. The number of Dunedin students Read more...

NZUSA wades into debate without mandate

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Stella Blake-Kelly

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations has thrown its support behind the citizens’-initiated referendum campaign against state asset sales without consulting or informing members. Confusion has arisen after the national union presented justifications for the decisions in private Read more...

Tibet to be freed following protest in the link

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Fudan University’s open day was interrupted by a protest from Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) on May 11. The silent protest began during the opening ceremony when seven SFT protestors displayed a banner reading “Save Tibet Now” and featuring the Chinese, Tibetan and SFT flags. The protestors then Read more...

University of Otago Employee Missing

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

The search for Health Science Library Team Leader David Palmer was scaled down last week, nine days after Mr Palmer failed to return from a tramp on Saturday May 5. As Critic went to print last Thursday, police said the chances of Mr Palmer’s survival were “very low”. The 53-year-old, who Read more...

Councils to be replaced with cronies, re-Joyce!

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Imogen Whyte

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has revealed reforms planned for the country’s eight university councils, saying they are large and unwieldly. The changes would likely see the size of university councils shrink and council personnel replaced by government-appointed members. Joyce Read more...

Dunedin lacks length

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

The financial affairs of Forsyth Barr Stadium received a further blow last week, with news that shortcomings at Dunedin International Airport may be hindering the economic benefits originally promised by the stadium. The Otago Daily Times reported last week that British band Coldplay Read more...

Turangi tragedy claims three lives

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Margot Taylor

A car crash near Turangi on Saturday May 12 resulted in the deaths of three Boston University students. The students who were studying on exchange at Auckland University, were on SH46 on their way to walk the Tongariro Crossing when the crash occurred. Daniela Rosanna Lekhno, Roch Jauberty, Read more...

Second bestest thing to ever happen to Dunedin!

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

A proposal for a 28-storey five-star hotel on Dunedin’s waterfront was revealed at an event in the Forsyth Barr Stadium on May 11. The developers of the $100 million venture have remained unidentified, with Steve Rodgers of Rodgers Law acting on their behalf to announce the hotel. Dunedin Mayor Dave Read more...

Cumberland College Terrorised by Ghost

Posted 7:58pm Sunday 20th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

Cumberland residents have been sleeping with the lights on and sharing rooms after multiple sightings of a ghost known as the “Grey Lady”. At 1am on Tuesday May 8 two female Cumberland students encountered the ghost as they made their way to a laundry on the college’s first floor. According to a Read more...

NZ Political Roundup

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

Critic’s market research has revealed that 70% of students get their news exclusively from messages chalked onto the ground on campus. So not only are you missing out on the political happenings that are so hot right now, you’re probably also contemplating whether Student Life can help you fill your Read more...

Critic Goes To Fight Night

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

The last golden era of heavyweight boxing is over. Mike Tyson is still in Vegas but he’s inexplicably hosting a one-man show. Evander Holyfield would get back in the ring if they would let him (he has at least nine kids to at least six different women so he needs the money for child support). Our Read more...

Americana

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

“Football”Surprise! NFL coaches can no longer reward players for intentionally injuring other players. The New Orleans Saints have been busted for a running a bounty system where players were rewarded for injuring key members of the other team. Bounty prizes varied according to how important the Read more...

Even Elton couldn’t save us

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The Forsyth Barr stadium is running at a loss of nearly $2 million with the Dunedin City Council considering whether to step in and help foot the bill. Dunedin Venues Management Ltd (DVML), the company running the stadium, revealed a loss of $1.9 million for the first six months of the Read more...

Hello I am the moon

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

A super perigee moon terrorised man and beast alike early last week. The event occurs when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, making it appear 14% bigger and 30% brighter than a standard full moon. The moon reached its fullest point at 3.35pm on Sunday 5 May. However Grant Christie Read more...

Edgarzibit hosts Pimp My Clubs & Socs

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

OUSA is splashing out half a million dollars to pimp out the Clubs & Societies Building. President Logan Edgar says that most of the money will be spent on “boring” maintenance rather than brand new features. The big-ticket item is an “eco-friendly, sustainable heating system”, which will cost Read more...

Upstart seeks token student for “diversity”

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

Upstart Business Incubator last week announced the opportunity for a student to join its Institute of Directors. The successful applicant will undertake the directorship for 12 months and “bring the voice of the student to boardroom discussions,” according to Upstart chief executive Steve Silvey. Read more...

Feral freshers frantically flock to filthy flats. Fuckers.

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Imogen Whyte

Second-year students living in the scarfie quarter have reportedly been stalked by first-year students declaring their love for flats such as “the Cuntry Club”, “The Eight Man” and “the Piss Stain” and seeking tours as the annual freshers attempt to lock down their second year accomodation as early Read more...

Student Revue offends all, entertains some

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

This year’s capping show, entitled Capocalypse, opened May 9 to packed crowds at the Teachers’ College Auditorium. Organised by OUSA, the show takes place annually to coincide with Otago’s graduation ceremonies and will run this year until May 19. The Capping Show is notorious for its Read more...

Media get information right second time around

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Josie Adams

Criticism has continued in response to the changes to the student loan and allowance schemes announced by Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce earlier this month. On May 3, Joyce revealed that student loan and allowances systems would be overhauled in the national budget, to be released on Read more...

House damaged: Fire involved

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

A student flat on Pitt Street was engulfed by flames on the evening of Tuesday May 9, sparking rumours of malicious arsonists and resident ghosts. Emergency vehicles, including four fire engines and one ambulance, arrived at the property at around 10.45pm, by which time the blaze was well Read more...

Degree factory churns out more WINZ applicants

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

The University of Otago is divesting itself of nearly a tenth of its students this month, releasing 1,755 graduates into the empty void of unemployment. Graduation Ceremonies to mark the event are being held from May 6 to 19 in the Regent Theatre. 1,345 students are expected to attend the Read more...

Scarfies find their place in world is up trees, wasted

Posted 7:08pm Sunday 13th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

The iconic scarfie drinking game “possum” has gone global after an Otago Daily Times article reported concerns that growing popularity of the game is causing problems in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens. The story was subsequently run by The Guardian and The Sun in England, Fox News in the United Read more...

What Is A Whale Oil?

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Gus Gawn

As a change of pace from Callum’s usual dogged endorsement of rightwing doctrine, this week’s political pages will have an “everyman” flavour. No longer will you be subjected to the ranting of a man whose self-awareness and balance is as poor as your Alzheimer’s-riddled Aunty Dot that time she Read more...

NZ Cricket Sucks

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

If you hear anyone talking about the Black Caps’s test team being in a “rebuilding phase”, this constitutes binding verbal consent to bowl beamers at them next time you hit the nets. When are the Black Caps not in a rebuilding phase? How many times have you heard the tired excuse, “well we may have Read more...

A Tale of Two Semi-Finals

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Callum Fredric

Good news, sports fans. Gus and I have swapped roles for the week. While this has dire ramifications for the quality of Issue 10’s political analysis, the sports pages will temporarily boast a vocabulary consisting of more than the words “bro” and “fuck”. So enjoy this preview of the 2011-12 UEFA Read more...

Drunk Wayfarers Get Their Just Desserts

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Josie Adams

Twelve students and their substantial quantaties of alcohol required rescue from Pudding Island on April 26, when they became trapped by the rising tide. After hearing the stranded students’ cries for help, Portobello residents alerted the Dunedin Coastguard. A rescue mission was sent out at Read more...

Not Enough Youth in Asia?

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Over 300 people filled the Colquhoun lecture theatre at Dunedin Hospital on April 26 to hear a panel discuss whether euthanasia and assisted suicide should be legalised. The panel discussion, entitled, “Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide: A discussion we need to have”, was prompted by Labour MP Maryan Read more...

Students unrealistic, possibly Oedipal

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

New Zealand tertiary students expect to be receiving high salaries and view their mums as the coolest people in their lives, according to a recent Colmar Brunton poll. Colmar Brunton is New Zealand’s most notable market research company, and was established in 1981. The poll of 220 New Read more...

Power-hungry scarfies briefly thwarted

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Claudia Herron

The University was struck by a power cut at around 11am on Monday April 30, disrupting lectures and severing the campus’s internet connection. The cut was the result of a contractor outside of the campus interfering with a power cable with an excavator, which stopped the supply to the main Read more...

Sneaky students slyly subvert system

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Imogen Whyte

The University caught fewer cheaters than usual in 2011, with figures released by under the Official Information Act showing that cheating and plagiarism incidents have dropped at six of New Zealand’s eight universities over the past year. Of the 19,500 full-time students at the University Read more...

Sign of the coming apocalypse: Drinking age to twenty

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Staff Reporter

The National Government has expedited the third reading of the Alcohol Reform Bill, which will introduce a raft of changes to the way that alcohol is sold in New Zealand. One of the more noteworthy changes is a split age for the purchasing of alcohol, which would allow 18-year-olds onto Read more...

National: Putting the “n” in “cuts”

Posted 12:51am Monday 7th May 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce revealed major changes to the student loan and allowance schemes in a pre-budget announcement on May 3. The changes will come as part of the national Budget, to be released on May 24. From next year graduates will have to pay off their loans at 12%, Read more...

The Five Stupidest Taxes

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Callum Fredric

01 | Excise Tax (“Sin Tax”)Excise tax is a tax put on anything the government of the day considers sinful. Classic examples are alcohol and tobacco. Initially, the money is spent on funding healthcare for people who overindulge in these sinful delights, but governments inevitably succumb to their Read more...

When in Doubt, Slap a Tobacco Company

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Callum Fredric

All hail the brave warrior Tariana Turia, leading the small but valiant army of the New Zealand Government against the numberless forces of the evil tobacco companies. While outnumbered ten-to-one in terms of resources, the Government underdogs will prevail – because they have moral righteousness on Read more...

I Love Beer Pong Bro

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

For the next five minutes (or however long it takes to read 800 words) beer pong counts as a sport. If you have a problem with this, direct emails to critic@critic.co.nz, which is thankfully not my email address. Beer pong is a sport in which teams of two compete against each other in a test Read more...

Women’s eight take on eight other women in Windermere

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

The Otago University Rowing Club is sending a women’s eight crew to the prestigious Windermere Cup in Seattle, Washington. International crews are invited to take on the University of Washington “Huskies” crew at the regatta, which is one of the highlights of the intercollegiate rowing calendar. Read more...

Social Basketball

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by John Burton

This week we introduce a section in which guest writers give you a rundown of what’s happening in the social sports scene. Here’s John Burton with his take on social basketball. The Unipol Social Basketball League is a breeding ground for up-and-coming basketball players from the University Read more...

Five fifth-years frolic for fish in filthy waters of Leith.

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Bella Macdonald

A flat of resourceful fifth-years have proven that half a decade of being a scarfie is enough to survive in the wild, after an impromptu fishing expedition put smoked salmon fillets on the students’ dinner plates. At about 10.30pm on April 17, reported sightings of salmon in the shallows of Read more...

Winter of discontent paralyses destitute Auckland students

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Josie Adams

A study released this month suggests that 15% of students suffer from “absolute” financial distress and are unable to afford basic accommodation, food and clothing requirements. The Graduate Longitudinal Study, which produced the findings, sampled nearly 9,000 sutdents in their final year Read more...

Army Never Been to War, Are GCs nonetheless

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Imogen Whyte

Christchurch’s Student Volunteer Army has been awarded the 2012 Returned Services’ Association Anzac of the Year Award, in recognition of its contribution to the Christchurch community following the Christchurch earthquakes. The award was presented on the eve of Anzac Day by the impressively-titled, Read more...

International students aware that Dunedin is not Christchurch

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

The University of Otago International office has noticed a drop in international students enrolling or arriving on exchange in the past year. However speculation (mainly by the Otago Daily Times) that the drop was caused by the Christchurch earthquakes appears unfounded. International Pro Read more...

“What would you do?” no longer a hypothetical question

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Claudia Herron

The University of Otago has announced an operating surplus of $26 million last year, the highest recorded surplus since the figure peaked in 2007 at $26.35 million. The surplus was $9.22 million above what was initially budgeted; however, the likelihood of maintaining future operating Read more...

Thousands of Invisible activists invisibly paint the night

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Sasha Borissenko

Invisible Children’s much-anticipated “Cover the Night” event “took place” on April 20. Despite this, the citizens of Dunedin were surprised to wake up on April 21 to find that global injustice and international human rights abuses continued around the world. Online documentary KONY 2012 Read more...

249 lose their place in the world

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Imogen Whyte

249 students were suspended from the University of Otago last year for failing to pass an adquate number of papers, compared to 84 suspensions in 2010. This increase comes as the as the University shifts its focus to producing “quality” students, Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne told the Otago Read more...

Craccum to remain shit

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

Craccum editor Thomas Dykes is here to stay after a vote to remove from his position at the Auckland students’ magazine failed on Thursday April 26. The vote was held at an Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) Special General Meeting (SGM) to consider a motion of no confidence Read more...

Logan and Jono Rowe to Victory

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Claudia Herron

Last week’s University Council Election saw Logan Edgar and Jono Rowe retain their seats. From the voter turnout of 5,296, Edgar received 1,957 votes. Rowe came a close second with 1,756 votes. The Council’s Constitution requires the two members to be current or former students of Otago, and Read more...

Sowing the Seeds of the Money Trees

Posted 4:56pm Sunday 29th April 2012 by Callum Fredric

At the Audacious business competition launch on Tuesday, everyone agreed – Dunedin needs more businesses if we want to keep young, talented graduates from flying off to brighter prospects in Wellington, Auckland, or overseas. The University of Otago is aware of the problem, and has thrown its weight Read more...

Time to Shoot the Easter Trading Bunny

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Callum Fredric

The Easter Trading Bunny has myxomatosis. He’s stumbling around, bleeding profusely, spreading chaos year after year. It’s time to put him out of his misery. Parliament has attempted to shoot him 14 times in the last 20 years, but they’ve been using a water pistol. A conscience vote is never going Read more...

The defamatory guide to NZ’s political youth wings

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Callum Fredric

To put a more positive spin on this article, think of it as a guide to help you decide which political youth wing you would be best suited to. Here’s a description of the stereotypical member of each of the youth branches of NZ’s political parties: Young NatsHoping to get hooked up with some Read more...

Unigames Happened, Otago Won Fair-Play Award. Yay!!

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Gus Gawn

Over the Easter break a team of Otago athletes picked competition over chocolate and sport over spicy hot cross buns when they represented Otago University at the New Zealand Unigames in Wellington. Otago has won the Unigames shield an impressive 35 times. This year the marketing gurus dubbed the Read more...

Students Exploit Environment for Personal Gain

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Staff Reporter

Students for Environmental Action (SEA) celebrated the inaugural autumn harvest from the campus community garden with a festival last Wednesday May 18, with a barbeque, some live music, and a bit of gentle gardening. SEA, which has been active at Otago since the 1960s, worked with OUSA and Read more...

Med students hate sausage, raise money by tutoring instead

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Gus Gawn

Med student Chrystal Diong is putting her ample spare time to good use by organising a student-tutoring programme that raises funds for World Vision. The scheme, simply entitled Tutoring for World Vision, allows second- and third-year med students with excellent grades to donate their time Read more...

MASSIVE FRAUD! UNIVERSITIES LIE!

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Callum Fredric

Playas gon’ play. The Tertiary Education Union has accused New Zealand’s universities of using dodgy (but legal) tactics to push themselves up the national rankings table. The Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) is a complicated system for allocating funding to universities based on the Read more...

Battle of the Bollards

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

A kerfuffle took place last week in the election campaign for the student seats on the University Council, with confusion over whether candidates were, or were not allowed to use the bollards around campus for publicity purposes. After student council candidate Margi MacMurdo-Reading Read more...

One Week of Volunteering

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Bella Macdonald

The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) is filling up their bag-o-karma with the introduction of the OUSA Volunteer Week. The programme, which ran from April 16 to April 22, was organised by OUSA alongside a separate volunteering scheme, scarfiecard. It gave students the Read more...

OUSA finally clicks, World War One happened

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Imogen Whyte

The University of Otago and OUSA will hold its first ANZAC remembrance ceremony this Wednesday April 25, to mark the contribution of University students and others who have fought for New Zealand. The ceremony will begin at the Memorial Walk outside the Clocktower at 1.30pm and end at the Read more...

Nine-year courtship ends in tears and late night drunken txt messages

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) has recently ruled against the University of Otago following a complaint over the University’s failure to confirm Dr Jane Millichamp as a lecturer, after nearly ten years on a fixed-term employment agreement. Dr Millichamp began working as a lecturer Read more...

OUSA sells Unipol shares for cash monies

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

OUSA no longer has a stake in Unipol, after selling the last of its shares to the University last week. OUSA will be paid $296,000 for its shares, and receive a settlement return of $370,000 from a loan dating back to the 1980s, putting the total amount that OUSA will receive at $666k. When Critic Read more...

Three students arrested over gnome raid

Posted 5:04pm Sunday 22nd April 2012 by Claudia Herron

Three Otago University students were arrested in Oamaru on April 12 after executing a garden gnome raid in broad daylight. A member of the public witnessed the thefts and alerted the Oamaru Police, who later stopped a car, to find the students in possession of the seven new gnome friends. The Read more...

Scarfie Wins South Island Surfing Champs

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

If you ask a surfer where the best waves in Dunedin are, don’t expect a friendly response. For a group of people that are laid back to the point of being horizontal they become notoriously cagey if they think their doggedly kept ‘secret spot’ may be revealed. Surfers generally can be divided into Read more...

Unbreakable

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

The Breakers have been the best team in the ANBL all season. They went up against their closest rivals the Perth Wildcats in the grand-final series on the Thursday and Friday just gone and depending on results a possible game three on Tuesday (April 24). To help you bandwagon jumpers out even Read more...

Rising from the ashes

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

To help you bandwagon jumpers out there Critic has done some homework and come up with three comments you can make that will make it sound like you know something about the Phoenix, other than that they wear Black and Yellow. “The Yellow Fever are the Phoenix’s loyal supporters group. When Read more...

Playoff time. Jump on the Band Wagon

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Gus Gawn

The start of April is playoffs time for trans-Tasman sports. The Wellington Phoenix have had their A-League (football/soccer) playoff run ended by a heartbreaking extra-time goal to the Glory in Perth on Easter Saturday night. And by the time you read this the New Zealand Breakers will have either Read more...

New Zealand Wastes Bucketloads on “Justice”

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

It was revealed this week that the legal bill of everyone’s least-favourite tutor Clayton Weatherston has surpassed $440,000 and is expected to rise, with more invoices still to be filed. Because Weatherston relies on legal aid, the taxpayer will pick up this expense. The former University Read more...

I Can Has Moar Vigilantism?

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The wild frontiers of North Dunedin are soon to be defended by a band of “Scarfie Sheriffs” whose role will include protecting saloon-goers from shoot ’em ups, Indians and gold train robberies. Although a little older than the average Toy Story 3D fan, scarfies have the potential to benefit Read more...

University collegial, if not universal

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The University of Otago has received a generally positive review in an Academic Unit Report published on 20 March. The New Zealand Universities Academic Audit Unit (NZUAAU) undertakes a review of each of New Zealand’s eight universities every five years and with Otago getting its turn this year. Read more...

See Spot Rot

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

An Otago Polytechnic student caused a stir after he displayed a piece of artwork last month featuring the carcass of a dog. The second-year student’s sculpture consisted of the remains of the dog draped over a beer crate and installed as part of an assignment at the Polytech’s sculpture Read more...

Plot to Overthrow Auckland Student Magazine Editor

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Staff Reporter

Craccum Editor Thomas Dykes may lose his position next week following a petition from 20 members of the Auckland University Student Association (AUSA) which calls for a motion of no confidence against him. The petition claims that Craccum (Auckland University’s student magazine) has been Read more...

Broadcasting Standards Authority agrees: Stoners are cool

Posted 3:53pm Sunday 15th April 2012 by Joe Stockman

The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has sided with Otago University student radio station Radio One, after a complaint by an Australian based GP about the radio station’s show Overgrown. The show, which is produced by pro-cannabis protest group NORML, and is hosted by NORML Read more...

Money Buys Happiness, But Not Elections

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Callum Fredric

It’s a common myth that money buys elections – in New Zealand at least, this is simply not the case. Evidence from several NZ elections has shown no real link between party spending and votes received. In the 2011 election campaign, the six biggest spenders were (in order): National, $2.3m; Read more...

It’s Voluntary Jim, but not as we know it

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Callum Fredric

Did you know OUSA considers you a member of their organisation? Well they do. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t sign up, OUSA President Logan Edgar reckons there’s no law preventing OUSA from signing up every single student as a member, so long as they’re not being directly charged any fees. Read more...

Old people love netball, but do students?

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Gus Gawn

It seems like everyone in Invercargill loves netball. All the grannies and kids used to pack out that stadium (before it fell over), smash those rumble sticks together and have a hell of a time. But does anyone care about netball in Dunedin? The Southern Steel is our netball team. They Read more...

Red Bull Marketing Campaign Receives Student Magazine Exposure Because It Totes Counts As A Sport

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Gus Gawn

This is the sixth issue of Critic for 2012. Apparently it only takes six weeks to abandon journalistic credibility and just start reporting on stuff that provides free energy drinks. When you think of Red Bull you think of extreme sports. Maybe a grinning Scandinavian guy pushing the limits Read more...

Now more expensive than ever to escape Dunedin

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

The price of flights to and from Dunedin has risen by up to $4 since last Friday after a surge in the Dunedin International (LOL) Airport’s user charge. Air New Zealand claims it has been forced to raise fares after DIA hiked the user charge by 78% to a total of $1.8 million a year. “We are Read more...

Studyspace.co.nz Profits Reach Single-Figures

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Callum Fredric

A new website has taken the student mantra “USBs get degrees” to a new level, with students now able to buy and sell notes for their courses online. University of Otago students Hayden Kerrisk (CEO), Mike Arthur (Programmer), and Paul Kibblewhite (Stylist) have created Studyspace, which is basically Read more...

Otago Greens Out

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Otago University is getting its green on with the appointment of Hilary Phipps in the role of Environmental Sustainability Co-ordinator. The creation of this brand-new role was prompted by the recommendations of a Working Party in late 2008 to promote the environmental sustainability of the Read more...

Ding Ding Flings Off Exec Thing

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Josie Adams

Ding Yi Ding resigned from the OUSA Exec only hours after winning the International Officer position in the by-election two weeks ago. She cited “personal reasons” for her departure. Although this might appear to be a lucky break for Shane Corrigan, the Dream Team’s losing candidate for the Read more...

University deals with disaster

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Margot Taylor

The University seems to have disaster on the mind, with assessment and construction underway to address the risk of earthquakes and floods. A year after the devastating 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, Otago’s Christchurch campus, which houses the School of Medicine, is undergoing repairs, Read more...

DCC Plans Dunedin’s Future

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Claudia Herron

The Dunedin City Council has distributed a draft long-term plan inviting submissions for its proposed rate increases for the next decade. The DCC is setting its sights high, although its efforts are being marred by the city’s debt and general apathy. The latter was evident in one first-rate Read more...

Hyde Street Galvanises Fun Police

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Gus Gawn

Battle lines have been drawn over the much-publicised North Dunedin Liquor Ban proposed by the DCC. The liquor ban proposal has been sitting on the table since the beginning of the year. The council’s initial proposal was debated heatedly on campus early in the semester but it seemed to sit Read more...

Scarfies Give Street a Hyding

Posted 7:07pm Sunday 1st April 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

Everyone’s favourite keg party took place Saturday March 24. Critic, along with 6,000 other partygoers, was there covering the drunkenness and debauchery. The goodProving to John Key that students do occasionally get out of bed before 7.30 at night, a raucous though mostly friendly crew of Read more...

Critic runs Jimmy Cowan Out of Town

Posted 5:00pm Monday 26th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

In breaking code news an un-named source has whispered in Critic Sports reporter Gus Gawn’s ear that Jimmy Cowan’s days as a Highlander are numbered. Our source has stated that Cowan will quit New Zealand at the end of the 2012 season to take up a contract with English club Gloucester. Read more...

New Zealand First

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

The New Zealand First Party is the Salmond College of political parties – far enough away from the mainstream to be forgotten by most, but not quite far out enough to gain notoriety like the Mana Party (Aquinas). For the average Kiwi, only one thing springs to mind when they think of NZ First ... Read more...

Warriors at Forsyth Barr, Yes Please.

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

How many of you want to see the Vodafone Warriors play an NRL game at Forsyth Barr Stadium? I know I do, and I bet you do too. Though Rugby League is the poorer cousin to Rugby Union in Dunedin, there is a dormant support base. How many of you regularly settle down to watch the Warriors on a Read more...

Highlanders Unbeaten

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

In unbelievable code update news, THE HIGHLANDERS ARE UNDEFEATED (or they were when we went to print on Thursday). That’s right folks – two home games, two away, four wins, 16 points, top of the table, top of the conference, top of the world. It’s not as if they’ve had an easy draw either. Read more...