Archive

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...

Rower rows toward rowing victory (in a rowboat)

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

Earlier this month 38 rowers were named to represent New Zealand at the London Olympics in July this year. It is the largest rowing squad that New Zealand has ever mustered for an Olympic games. Beyond shot-putter Valerie Adams, most of New Zealand’s medals will probably come from these 38 rowers. Read more...

Castaway’s ‘Wilson’ makes tragic real life appearance in Southland

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Sasha Borissenko

Invercargill locals are in shock over what has been described as New Zealand’s worst maritime disaster since the Wahine in 1968. An 11-metre fishing boat, the Easy Rider, capsized in Foveaux Strait on Wednesday March 14 with nine people on board. Only one person is thought to have survived, with Read more...

Marmite stocks depleted

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Marmite has disappeared off shelves all around New Zealand, four months after Sanitarium’s Christchurch factory was closed following an engineers’ report showing the building was unsafe. “Marmageddon” has ensued, resulting in rationing, mass riots and the breakdown of New Zealand society. The Read more...

Sex, blackmail and head injuries

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

National MP Nick Smith has resigned from his ministerial roles after the first major Parliamentary scandal of the year. On July 7 last year, Dr. Smith wrote a letter to ACC in support of his “friend” Bronwyn Pullar, who was fighting a long-running battle with ACC after suffering a head injury in a Read more...

Air NZ’s Cockpit Cock-Up

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Air New Zealand has discovered cracks near its planes’ cockpit windows, grounding 11 aircrafts and causing delays to flights in and out of Dunedin. After hairline cracks were found in one aircraft during a routine inspection, all 11 planes in the 11-year-old ATR fleet were grounded until Read more...

Edgar shits on rights abuse claims

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

OUSA President Logan Edgar appeared in two hard-hitting interviews last week. The first took place on Breakfast on Tuesday March 20. Veteran journalist Corin Dann challenged Edgar on OUSA’s current student enrolment procedures, which allow the student association to skim cheekily above legal Read more...

Victoria IS the bomb

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

Victoria University in Wellington plunged into chaos on Monday morning when an anonymous email sent to the University outlined a bomb threat against the Easterfield building at the Uni’s Kelburn campus. The building was evacuated and cordoned off for several hours while police used a bomb dog to Read more...

Tame Iti Hangs Jury

Posted 4:26pm Sunday 25th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

Questions have arisen over the fate of the “Urewera Four” after a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the most serious charge against them. On March 20 Tame Iti, Te Rangikaiwhiria Kemara, Emily Bailey and Urs Signer were found guilty by a jury on a number of firearms charges. The offences Read more...

The Six Breeds of Anti Alcohol Activist

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

01 | Health NazisYeah that’s right, Critic breached Godwin’s law. Deal with it. The health nazis want to ban alcohol (and the KFC Double Down) to protect you from yourself. According to these finger-wagging wowsers, if a guy drinks six standards, he’s officially binge-drinking. That would explain Read more...

Rigger vents spleen all over Critic reporter

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

Mark Richardson is an ex-Black Cap, Sky Sports Commentator and host of TV shows The Crowd Goes Wild (CGW), and The Cricket Show. He lived in Dunedin for 10 years, playing cricket for Otago and studying towards a BCom (which he has never used). He makes his money nowadays as an inflammatory TV Read more...

Lamington Attacks Spark Dangerous New Trend

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Auckland Mayor Len Brown was attacked on March 9 by a sponge-smearing protester after a session with Auckland University students. Mr. Brown was on campus discussing the dispute between Maritime New Zealand and the Ports of Auckland Union. At the conclusion of his speech, a protester Read more...

Big queer boots to fill

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Josie Adams

With long-time coordinator Jamie Burford finishing his stint at Queer Support last week, Neill Ballantyne has been appointed to take over the role. Neill has been involved in Queer Support for two years, starting out as a peer supporter. While the eventual plan might be to revolutionise Read more...

Skegg takes his place in the world

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Margot Taylor

Sir David Skegg, former University of Otago Vice-Chancellor, was named this week as the next President of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Professor Skegg will begin his position at the Royal Society, an education and research charity for the advancement and promotion of science, Read more...

Otago Police Watch Titanic and Panic

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

With a growing number of cruise ships entering the Otago Harbour this year, an emergency plan is being put in place to manage any potential disaster. The number of cruise ships visiting Otago has soared over the past decade from 25 in 2003 to 80 this year, prompting the emergency plan. It Read more...

Government serves up waffle with condescension sauce

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

Prime Minister John Key has hinted at further overhaul to the student loan system, but is unlikely to reinstate interest for fear of reprisal by students “getting out of bed before 7 o’clock at night.” Critic polled students on the various insurrectionary activities they could pursue by Read more...

Parliament Hears Mojo Mathers

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

The yelling match is over. Green Party MP Mojo Mathers, who is profoundly deaf, will receive Parliamentary funding for a note-taking assistant and any extra support that she needs in order to carry out her duties as an MP. Speaker of the House Lockwood Smith issued a direction to Read more...

Critic loses porn access / reason to live

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

Students will no longer have access to websites deemed “objectionable” by the University’s IT services. In addition to preventing acess to pornography and sex advice, finding lulz has also been hindered by the policy. Critic was first alerted to the change after attempts to access morally Read more...

Powers that be make rules. Rules made to be broken.

Posted 4:27pm Sunday 18th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

Confusion has arisen over the enforcement of the proposed glass ban for the Hyde Street Keg Party. Hyde Street Party posters distributed by OUSA throughout the University state that the event is to be glass-free and that $200 fines can be dished out. However, OUSA do not have the Read more...

Critic goes to the Cricket

Posted 3:11pm Tuesday 13th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

On Wednesday Critic didn’t go to the cricket because we had to help write for Critic and had class, also it was raining. On Thursday Critic had to do Critic again and also had work so didn’t have time for the cricket. This made Critic angry because it was a lovely day and the cricket was Read more...

Rich White Men Battle to Evict Black Guy

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Sam McChesney

The race for the Republican presidential nomination drags hilariously on. Actually, given that at the time of writing Mitt Romney has just won in the key state of Ohio, the race may actually be over by the time this issue of Critic gets published. In that case, don’t think of this blurb as obsolete, Read more...

Tall guy is good at Frisbee, also Discus

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

Marshall Hall is probably the best Dunedin athlete you have never heard of. Most people would have noticed him around uni (he’s 6’10” and massive) and thought, “who the fuck is that tall guy? I bet he’s good at basketball.” You would be right (NZ U18 rep), but he’s even better at throwing a discus. Read more...

NZUSA loves flogging dead horses

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Bella Macdonald

The New Zealand Union of Students Associations (NZUSA) has realised students are incurring debt in order to study, and have issued a press release to warn everyone about the situation, a mere 20 years after the student loan scheme was launched. In a press release dated March 6 2012, NZUSA Read more...

University Entices Students With Stolen Gym

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

The Otago University has still not had to pay for the University Plaza building located in front of the stadium, despite using it since the start of the year. The Unipol recreation complex has been open since mid-January and has had massive numbers of students from the University and Read more...

Dunedin "100% Likely" to Suffer Catastrophic Earthquake by 2012

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

The University is spending $50m to upgrade its buildings over the next seven years, in order to reduce the buildings’ vulnerability to earthquakes. A top-secret forum, off-limits to students and the media, was held last Tuesday March 6 in the College of Education Auditorium, in order to Read more...

Sun sets on ODT's news section

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Gregor Whyte

The Otago Daily Times was so delighted by the appearance of the Sun in the Dunedin skyline last week that they put an article to that effect as the lead story on their website. The short article was entitled “Strange excitement as sun appears above Dunedin”, and did not state who authored Read more...

Hyde and seek

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

OUSA president Logan Edgar has lashed out at claims by the Otago Daily Times’s Rosie Manins that the Hyde Street Keg Party has been “marred by disorder” in previous years. The comments from Edgar came as he clinched a significant political victory, securing the future of the keg party after having Read more...

Unversity kills 25,000 primitive animals during research

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Margot Taylor

25,000 animals died in University of Otago research and teaching projects between 2009 and 2010. This number is expected to increase significantly, as statistics from 2011 are yet to be released. A recent Otago Daily Times article pushed the issue into the public sphere when it published Read more...

Edgar: "OUSA loses its Mojo"

Posted 6:37pm Sunday 11th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

Last Tuesday saw the long-overdue demolition of OUSA building Mojo’s Hall, after over a year of inactivity in deciding what to do with the weather-damaged site. OUSA finally sold the condemned property for above market value to a land developer, who then instigated its demolition to make way for Read more...

What's a few million amongst friends

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

While many students were pissing away their course-related costs in Dunedin’s “pimping new Forsyth Barr Stadium” last week, the Dunedin City Council announced that the total cost of the stadium was still not clear, and that an independent investigation by auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers would Read more...

New Unipol offers Freshers false hope over inevitable 'Five'

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gregor Whyte

The new Unipol recreation centre, located next to the Forsyth Barr stadium, opened in late January and the facility has so far received a warm reception from students, with 4600 students going through the gym in a single day last week. The facility boasts two weight rooms, a cardio room, Read more...

Skateboarders unable to read minds

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gregor Whyte

Property Services have announced that they will release a new Cycling and Skateboard policy later this year, with the intention of addressing several areas of concern for campus users. The policy will include maps showing cycle routes, an update of the current “open” bike racks on campus, and Read more...

William Tell, apparently not such a fantastic shot after a tray of SoGos

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

In a continuation of the gratuitous violence that has plagued Dunedin in recent weeks, a man was shot in the foot with a crossbow during an alcohol-fuelled incident in the suburb of Mornington. A 54-year-old male required surgery to remove a crossbow bolt from his foot after a 51-year-old Read more...

Choose Your Political Poison

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

The 58% have spoken, and the MMP voting system is here to stay. But several key aspects of the system are up for review, and the Electoral Commission is calling for submissions from the public. Some of the issues you can give your two cents on include: The threshold for a party to get into Read more...

University grads flee country to find jobs, avoid crossbow violence

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gregor Whyte

University students have identified not finding a job after graduation as one of their greatest fears, and as one of the most stressful factors affecting them during their studies. A Colmar Brunton poll reported in the New Zealand Herald found that 21% of students identified being unable to Read more...

Stupid students spark search

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Claudia Herron

Two third-year students had to be rescued after their O-Week raft expedition down the Taieri River ended in a major Search and Rescue operation involving more than 40 personnel. In an attempt to turn their O-Week into O-Creek, the pair set out on a homemade raft fashioned out of plywood and Read more...

Otago's Manhood Swallowed by Giant Hole

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

The Otago Rugby Football Union is officially broke. They can’t afford SoGos, they can’t buy ramen, they can’t even pay the power bill. And they certainly won’t be springing for the whole team to get tuggies down at Lucky Sevens on Friday night. At the time Critic went to print on Thursday Read more...

Orientation Huge

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Josie Adams

Orientadium 2012 was the biggest orientation ever, and, for the most part, saw good behaviour from students with few incidents of note. With the Union building and lawn out of commission (it’s being prettified to the tune of $5.7 million) the week’s events moved to the Forsyth Barr Stadium. Read more...

Dole-bludgers told to get job, haircut

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

Xbox sales have crashed after the Government announced the first stage of its welfare reforms on Monday February 27. Solo parents on the DPB will be expected to look for part-time work once their oldest child hits five, and full-time work once their oldest child hits 14. Having another kid while on Read more...

Execrable

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Callum Fredric

Welcome to a new year of Execrable, the column that gives you an insight into the spiffing world of OUSA. The year has got off to a great start already, with the old OUSA logo that made the S look like a J being gradually phased out, allowing the Japanese Association to call off its Yakuza Read more...

The Rise of the Lady Referee

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

For five long minutes Brigitte Tyler was the darling of the New Zealand sporting universe. It was Wellington Sevens weekend. You were probably drunk, wearing a stupid costume you cobbled together in 5 minutes. Or you were drunk somewhere else. You were drunk. That’s all there is too it. It was a Read more...

Single White Cricketer

Posted 4:53pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

Neil Wagner is a driven man. Since the age of 14 he has dreamed of playing international cricket, but things just kept standing in his way. He wanted to play for the Proteas, but he couldn’t. He wants to play for the Black Caps but he can’t (yet). It’s all he wants to do. Please New Zealand let this Read more...

Critic goes to the Rugby

Posted 4:08pm Sunday 4th March 2012 by Gus Gawn

Apparently a part of my job as sports reporter for Critic this year involves actually going to sports and reporting on them so, here we go. Joe (the editor) and I went and mixed it up with the other media types in the press box up the back of the main stand. That guy from 3 Sports with the massive Read more...

Summer Political Roundup

Posted 3:39pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Callum Fredric

Summer isn’t all backyard cricket, beer and barbecues. In fact, New Zealand’s politicians have been working hard all summer to take away your freedom to engage in those activities. Here’s a roundup of what happened while you were away over the break ... Tea tapes Biggest letdown of 2012. The Read more...

Remember the Highlanders

Posted 3:06pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Gus Gawn

Whatever happened to the Highlanders? They were a force to be reckoned with at the start of last year and then disapeared into a green oblivion. Well, this year, they are your new favourite rugby team. They have new, better players (cheers Mark Hammet), including an experienced campaigner to do the Read more...

Re-Union

Posted 2:59pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

Otago students are about to receive a snazzy new space to study and socialise. Those in the know, including a certain Student President, have hinted that the space will be well worth the interim annoyance from the construction currently covering the heart of the campus. The Student Union, Read more...

Freshers run about in meaningless bid for physical prestige

Posted 2:56pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Gus Gawn

Last Tuesday hundreds of freshers packed Logan Park in their colour-coordinated and wittily-branded hall T-shirts, to take part in semi-formal passive-aggressive athletic pursuits. Plenty of skills were on show in volleyball, touch, netball and soccer but many chose to keep it casual to avoid being Read more...

North Dunedin Street Drinking Culled?

Posted 2:52pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Callum Fredric

Beverage-loving students are breaking down in tears after the Dunedin City Council took the first step towards a permanent ban on drinking in North Dunedin streets. The ban, if it goes ahead, will cover the area bordered by Queen Street, Opoho Road, Logan Park, and the railway line. Currently, Read more...

Break out your flat-peaks, the Octagon just got gangsta.

Posted 2:34pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Gus Gawn

A gang-related stabbing occurred near the Robert Burns Statue in the Octagon early on the morning of Saturday the 18th of February. One man was hospitalised with stab wounds and another was arrested and faces charges. It is believed the long-standing rivalry between Black Power and Mongrel Mob gangs Read more...

Proctor Chokes Freedom of Expression with COC

Posted 2:28pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Charlotte Greenfield

A student flat has received a warning from police over the controversial name of their flat. As is common practice among scarfie flats, the residents of 584 Castle St erected a sign to announce their flat’s identity to the North Dunedin community. This particular group decided to name their Read more...

Dunedin Remembers Christchurch Quake

Posted 2:18pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Claudia Herron

A contingent of 400 Otago students and Dunedin residents gathered on the Museum Reserve, united as one in red and black, to commemorate the first anniversary of the February 22nd Christchurch Earthquake. The memorial service was organized by OUSA, which had also initiated a similar service last Read more...

Knox Knocks. Who's there? Change.

Posted 2:06pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Zane Pocock

2012 looks to be a vastly different experience for residents of Knox College, following a review by the University of Otago and the New Zealand Presbyterian Church, which privately runs Knox in affiliation with the University. The review involved interviews with students to analyse the culture of Read more...

Burning Down the Castle

Posted 1:57pm Friday 24th February 2012 by Bella Macdonald

Otago students have returned to the streets of Dunedin in full force. Following an impromptu street party and several couch fires last Monday at around 10.30pm, police arrested six students involved on Castle Street. A crowd spilled out from a flat-warming and gathered around the fires, Read more...

John Stansfield from Oxfam

Posted 3:18am Monday 17th October 2011 by Critic

John Stansfield worked for a number of non-profit organisations including the Problem Gambling Foundation and sustainability projects on Waiheke Island, he even founded and headed a Department of Non-Profit Studies at Massey for a number of years, before picking up his position at Oxfam New Zealand. Read more...

Proctology -28

Posted 2:42am Monday 17th October 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

In our last meeting of the year, the Proctor was very keen to “blow Campus Watch’s trumpet.” We were a bit taken back by this statement, but really what consenting adults get up to in their own time is none of our business. And Otago’s finest have been protecting the student community Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 28

Posted 2:33am Monday 17th October 2011 by Lozz Holding

What a year it has been. The naïve, innocent little first years who joined us in February are now all grown up. In fact it’s hard to believe that less than eight months ago these shameless, grubby little creatures were STI-free, respectable members of society whose parents still loved them. Read more...

New Unipol facility to open January 23

Posted 2:31am Monday 17th October 2011 by Lozz Holding

Unipol Recreation Centre will reopen in the new location of the University Plaza Building on January 23 next year. The move to the new facility has been a long time coming and will provide students and paying members of the public with new and improved recreational facilities.   The Read more...

ODT makes aggressive move against University

Posted 2:29am Monday 17th October 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The Otago Daily Times has delivered the first strike in its long-rumoured move to destroy the University of Otago, after the mediocre daily newspaper moved to summarily wipe out the ‘Campus Life’ section of its unpopular website. Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000169 EndHTML:0000005013 Read more...

Pensioner trades in Gold Card for Critic Editorship

Posted 2:24am Monday 17th October 2011 by Staff Reporter

Mature student and ex-University of Otago dropout Joe Stockman has been appointed to the position of Critic Editor 2012 It is unclear when Stockman began his tenure as an Otago student, as the faded papyrus records of his original enrollment have faded beyond repair. However, his references to Read more...

Another year of Edgar; females and farm animals rejoice

Posted 2:21am Monday 17th October 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The election results for the 2012 OUSA Executive were announced last Thursday evening at 5pm in the Gazebo Lounge. Incumbent President Logan Edgar retained his position as the most powerful scarfie on campus, with another full year in office to look forward to. Edgar dominated the Presidential Read more...

Gareth Badger

Posted 4:41am Monday 10th October 2011 by Critic

For those of you who don’t immediately recognise the name, Garth Badger is a New Zealand photographer. Specializing in the area of fashion photography, Badger has taken the scene by storm since embarking on this career path four and a half years ago. His images are now featured in Remix Read more...

The Candidates: OUSA Presidential Election 2011

Posted 4:35am Monday 10th October 2011 by Critic

Logan Edgar: "I'm smart as fuck" Where are you from? I originate from the thriving Southern metropolis of Manapouri which is nestled firmly in the bosom of the majestic Fiordland National Park.   Age? 20   Why do you want to be President? I know OUSA and VSM Read more...

The Candidates: OUSA Presidential Election 2011

Posted 4:33am Monday 10th October 2011 by Critic

Dan Benson-Guiu: The Contender Where are you from? Half-English, half-Catalan but I went to Logan Park High School in Dunedin.   How old are you? 19   What are you studying? Philosophy, Politics and Communication Studies.   Why do you want to be Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 27

Posted 4:31am Monday 10th October 2011 by Sam Reynolds

It is with great sadness that I come to you in this, the last “Chronicles of Castle”; what a year it’s been. Before we get to nostalgic, this week’s news. Last weekend saw a constant stream of people heading to the hospital to be stitched up due to glass cuts. It also Read more...

Execrable - 27

Posted 4:29am Monday 10th October 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Critic greatly appreciated the brevity of last week’s meeting, especially in light of the fact that this week’s meeting is apparently cancelled due to lack of business to discuss. That’s either efficiency of the highest order, or total and utter laziness, depending on your Read more...

Otago gooder at finances stuff

Posted 4:27am Monday 10th October 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The University of Otago leads the university education sector in New Zealand in fiscal responsibility, maintaining the lowest debt-to-equity levels of all the country’s universities.   Otago managed a debt-to-equity level of just 14.1%, with the Auckland University of Read more...

PMS a Myth

Posted 4:25am Monday 10th October 2011 by Staff Reporter

According to a new University of Otago psychiatric study, the effects of PMS on women’s moods may be exaggerated.   Based on data collected from 76 women, the study found that a woman’s mood doesn’t change substantially during the pre-menstrual phase (when PMS Read more...

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Posted 4:24am Monday 10th October 2011 by Julia Hollingsworth

As anticipated as Next Top Model, OUSA’s next top flat was announced last week, recognising both the good and the bad of student living experiences.   The best flat was 543/5 George Street, which OUSA Welfare Officer Shonelle Eastwood described as “a great quality Read more...

University culls Portugese

Posted 4:23am Monday 10th October 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The University of Otago will halt the teaching of 100 level papers in Portuguese in 2012, after perennially low enrolment figures meant that teaching the subject had become financially untenable. Portuguese papers have been offered at the University since 2003 through the Department of Read more...

Study suggests lazy drunks do not outperform diligent nerds. Everyone deeply surprised.

Posted 4:21am Monday 10th October 2011 by Lozz Holding

A recent study has crushed the age-old myth that binge drinking and afternoon classes are the most effective method of achieving excellent grades at university. The research, conducted by two psychologists at St Lawrence University in America, studied the habits of 253 students and found that Read more...

Another mind-blowing referendum

Posted 4:17am Monday 10th October 2011 by Lozz Holding

Students can hardly contain themselves   Critic was literally frothing at the gash when they found out the details of the upcoming OUSA referendum, and undoubtedly the rest of our readers are equally hot and bothered about getting their sticky little fingers on the scoop.   Read more...

Annual measure of student apathy this week

Posted 4:15am Monday 10th October 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Voting opens for the OUSA Elections for the 2012 Executive this Monday October 10 at 9am, and runs until 4pm on Thursday October 13. Incumbent President Logan Edgar has been running an aggressive campaign, with posters around campus and a Youtube video featuring endorsements from various Read more...

Dai Henwood

Posted 3:44am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Dai Henwood is a man of stock, stocky. His now familiar face and 5”5 frame are common to our television sets streaming in as they do every Friday night on 7 Days. Henwood is a member of the “new wave” of New Zealand comedy. He started out in Wellington before migrating to the big smoke and then Read more...

Execrable - 26

Posted 3:23am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

At an Exec meeting that briefly threatened to leave the realms of interminable boredom, the Exec finally passed the 2012 OUSA Budget. The savvy Exec had recommended two different budgets, since at the time of the meeting the VSM bill still hadn’t been passed. The next day it passed, Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 26

Posted 3:21am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Lozz Holding

This edition of “Bouncing off the Halls” was supposed to appear in next week’s Critic, but at short notice senior management sent us out into the field to see what we could find, and they weren’t disappointed. Kicking things off, we were told that a little while ago some eager little UniColian Read more...

Best of a bad bunch

Posted 3:19am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Charlotte Greenfield

Entries have flooded in for OUSA’s second annual Next Top Flat competition, with the majority of entries aiming to lose. Judging took place last week, and the winning, losing and greenest flats will be announced today. The idea of the competition, aside from giving students free stuff, Read more...

ODT headlines hit new lows. Stats on the up though.

Posted 3:18am Monday 3rd October 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

The ODT managed to title a story about a University of Otago statistics lecturer being elected the head of the International Association for Statistical Education with the unbelievably stupid headline, “New President knows statistics”. Did they think it was a possibility that he Read more...