Archive

OUSA not the only scandalous student organisation

Posted 3:51am Thursday 28th July 2011 by Staff Reporter (with reporting from Nexus Magazine).

Proving that exec members behaving scandalously isn’t a phenomenon exclusive to OUSA, the Waikato Students’ Union (WSU) has removed Vice President Maori Toko Baker with immediate effect after he seriously breached the values of the organization. Baker’s behaviour included alleged minor Read more...

Students not too concerned about SJS Office closure

Posted 3:49am Thursday 28th July 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

The possible closure of local SJS branches and their replacement with a centralised call centre in Wellington has been met with general unconcern among students spoken to by Critic. Whilst many students acknowledged using SJS to look for employment, both during the university year and over the Read more...

Crowd Divided on VSM, United Against Hilary

Posted 3:44am Thursday 28th July 2011 by Staff Reporter

Gareth Hughes (Green Party), David Clark (Labour), Michael Woodhouse (National) and Hilary Calvert (ACT Party) took part in a debate on VSM - among other issues - on Friday July 15 at the Gazebo Lounge. The politicians were given five minutes to introduce themselves at the beginning of the Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 17

Posted 3:42am Thursday 28th July 2011 by Sam Reynolds

After a prolonged absence, Chronicles of Castle is back like the bowl cut. I do apologise for the delay but the author has been busy gathering stories during the chaos of Re-O Week. The chaos of last week has left most residents in a zombie like state, with malnutrition striking down flats and Read more...

Execrable - 17

Posted 11:53pm Monday 25th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Critic’s first experience of an outdoor Exec meeting wasn’t quite the delightful nature encounter that we were hoping for. Instead, it was cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Luckily, caged President Logan Edgar was on hand to provide the lols, not to mention the hot chocolate bribe Read more...

Jeffrey Harris

Posted 5:14am Monday 25th July 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Two doors down from a car mechanic and across the road from a photography studio, Jeffrey Harris works and paints. It is his compulsion. Not to paint in his words renders him ‘frustrated and angry and depressed and very twitchy. I have got to work.” In his industrial space, he welcomes me with a Read more...

Next stop the White House

Posted 5:11am Monday 25th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

New OUSA President Logan Edgar has had a meteoric rise in politics. Only weeks ago Edgar was just another bum on a seat in BSNS104: Principles of Economics One. Now he finds himself in charge of a multi-million dollar organisation, and many are tipping him to go on to even greater things. Read more...

There goes the neighbourhood

Posted 5:09am Monday 25th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

A proposal has been issued to Student Job Search offices nationwide indicating that regional offices will be shut down in September, with a centralised call centre to be established in Wellington. As a result Otago would be left without any representation on campus, with the one staff Read more...

Re-O no Rio

Posted 5:05am Monday 25th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

Last week was Re-O Week, and although a number of events were cancelled due to both the weather and lack of attendance, the week was generally considered a success. OUSA organised a raft of events to keep the punters amused. Wednesday saw the President dressed up as the Mad Butcher giving away Read more...

Deloitte have more money than Latvia.

Posted 5:01am Monday 25th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Radio One is still too expensive though. The Deloitte review’s recommendation to sell Radio One has sparked a “Save Radio One” campaign, which has gained a significant following throughout the proposal’s consultation period.   The review was undertaken to Read more...

Student politicians have conference.

Posted 4:59am Monday 25th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

Nobody cares. Business as usual then. The New Zealand Union of Student’s Associations (NZUSA) recently held its July conference at Victoria University of Wellington, with the presidents of student’s associations from around the country meeting to attend talks and workshops, and Read more...

Execrable - 16

Posted 4:58am Monday 25th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

First meeting back and Critic dashed into the boardroom slightly late to discover the whole Exec had been instructed to “dress like gangstas,” while wearing “I Read more...

Sigh…

Posted 4:56am Monday 25th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

A radical element within Critic Te Arohi, the feted University of Otago student magazine, has established a new company with the intention of buying out the popular student watering hole The Captain Cook Tavern. The new Critic subsidiary, Critical Capital Holdings, is the brainchild of Read more...

On the roof

Posted 4:54am Monday 25th July 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

A drunken student had to be removed from the roof of the Cadbury’s factory in Dunedin by the fire service, as students marked the traditional Re-O Week with festivities and a lot of drinking. During the incident last Tuesday, a University of Otago student was arrested for climbing onto the top Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 16

Posted 4:53am Monday 25th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

Older students often tend to blame many of the problems in life on freshers, and for good reason. Freshers are frequently guilty of ruining bars, pushing rent prices up by signing flat leases in April, and of giving you that insatiable itch around your pubic region after a SoGo fuelled dalliance Read more...

Hon Steven Joyce

Posted 12:06am Tuesday 12th July 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Steven Joyce likes a good cappuccino, but insists on nothing sprinkled on the top. Surely, that's more of a latte then? But no, apparently with a layer of espresso, milk and froth it distinguishes itself easily from the infamous beverage. Joyce, a name more synonymous with Guiness and Leprechauns, Read more...

Remember that token Scarfie candidate?

Posted 12:01am Tuesday 12th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

He won. By a lot. ‘Scarfie’ candidate Logan Edgar won a landslide victory in the OUSA Presidential by-election held just before exams last semester. The now President Edgar is 20-year old second year BCom student majoring in Marketing. He was born and raised in Te Anau, Read more...

Review recommends less staff

Posted 11:54pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

In May 2011 OUSA engaged the services of Deloitte to complete a review of the current organisational structure. Along with the potential sale of Radio One (covered on page 11), the review has recommended the disestablishment of various staff roles within OUSA. No final decisions have yet been Read more...

Radio None

Posted 11:40pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

OUSA is strongly considering getting rid of student radio station Radio One after an independent review by financial services giant Deloitte recommended selling the station to save money. In May the OUSA Executive commissioned Deloitte to “complete a review of the current organisational Read more...

Cook Brothers to sell Cook

Posted 11:38pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

Identity crisis imminent? The Captain Cook Tavern is officially for sale, ending almost constant speculation from Critic. The Cook Brothers Bars Company has put the bar on the market and expressions of interest are open until 4pm July 22. The Captain Cook Tavern first opened in 1864 and Read more...

O-week again.

Posted 11:36pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

OUSA is promising a “diverse range of entertainment” to “keep you warm while it’s getting a little cold out” for Re-Orientation 2011. The festivities kick off on Wednesday with OUSA Clubs Day in the Union Common Room between 10am and 4pm, giving students and the public a chance “to check Read more...

Critic’s power and influence growing.

Posted 11:35pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

Critic’s hard-hitting journalism has successfully forced the ODT to redesign the ‘On Campus’ website after Critic’s groundbreaking coverage of an alleged ‘nefarious alliance’ between the ODT and the Otago Polytechnic (see Critic Issue 14, page 13). In June the ODT redesigned their website to Read more...

Exec Member Strides Off

Posted 11:29pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Julia Hollingsworth

OUSA Finance and Services Officer Dan Stride has resigned from his position after allegations of criminal conduct by Stride were referred to the police. Stride was accused of indecent assault and was offered diversion under the police diversion scheme. The incident occurred at a flat party, Read more...

Students incapable of learning

Posted 11:28pm Monday 11th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Dunedin police are formulating a plan to reduce the number of burglaries in the scarfie-populated North Dunedin, having recorded 54 burglaries between March and June this year in streets mainly lived in by students. Inspector Campbell, the police Area Commander, described the area as Read more...

Mayor Dave Cull

Posted 4:20am Monday 11th July 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Last year, Dunedin wanted change. It demanded change. And Dave Cull seemed to be the man to deliver it. As such, he was voted in as your Mayor. You may have even given him the tick. Or did you vote back home? Having talked to the guy, I can see why Cull attracted the voters. He writes, he reads, is Read more...

Young voters could decide the MMP referendum

Posted 4:14am Monday 11th July 2011 by Josh Hercus

The youth vote could be the decider in the upcoming referendum on MMP, with current enrolment rates in the 18-24 demographic so low that they could prove critical in MMP’s tight contest to remain as New Zealand’s election system. Only 50.17% of youth aged 18 to 24 are enrolled to vote in Read more...

ODT and Polytech combine to take a dump on head of Uni

Posted 4:11am Monday 11th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The alleged uncovering of a nefarious alliance between the Otago Polytechnic and the Otago Daily Times (ODT) has triggered a ridiculous article in the student magazine Critic. Whilst browsing the ODT website to find filler news for the “Briefs” section of the magazine, Critic Read more...

Everything passes in OUSA Referendum. Except that darned constitution.

Posted 4:08am Monday 11th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The OUSA referendum resulted in all motions passing the vote, with the exception of the crucial motion addressing the current constitutional structure of OUSA. Motions accepting the OUSA audited financial statements and annual report for 2010 both passed with only minor opposition, although in Read more...

Otago Less Good

Posted 4:06am Monday 11th July 2011 by Gregor Whyte

Unimpressed with lack of couch burnings and riots, ranking agency punishes Otago with huge drop in rankings. New Zealand universities have fallen considerably in the just released version of the QS World Universities Rankings, with Otago University suffering the most significant tumble, Read more...

Execrable - 14

Posted 4:05am Monday 11th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Acting-Acting-Vice-President Katie Reid chaired last week’s Executive meeting, with the presidential by-election causing a bit of a shuffle-up in the Exec structure. Administrative Vice President/Acting President Brad Russell didn’t want to chair the meeting in case it appeared he was Read more...

Election campaigns reveal that none of these candidates is the next Obama

Posted 4:03am Monday 11th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

By the time Critic is being read by all of our many [several] fans, the by-election results for President will be final, as voting closed at 4pm Friday June 3. Based on the results, the relative success of the candidates’ campaigns should now be obvious. However, prior to voting closing Critic Read more...

High

Posted 4:02am Monday 11th July 2011 by Basti Menkes

University of Otago researchers David Fergusson and Joseph Boden have directed a statement at Prime Minister John Key regarding the prosecution of older teenagers/young adults for possessing marijuana. They have argued that although most teenagers are safe from the harm this drug can cause, Read more...

Drunk gets drunk for charity

Posted 4:00am Monday 11th July 2011 by Staff Reporter

Two Dunedin students lived the scarfie dream and made money for charity in a neat dovetailing of interests by deciding to drink for 40 hours non-stop for the 40 hour famine. The students warmed up for the famine with eight drinks, and then settled into a more reasonable Southern Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 14

Posted 3:59am Monday 11th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

I’m not a religious man. Magic and imaginary friends have never really been my thing. But I’ll be the first to admit it’s a goddamn miracle that no poor bastard has broken their ankle crossing the newly refurbished Leith Bridge. What was wrong with it in the first place is beyond me but Read more...

Tiny Ruins

Posted 3:44am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Tiny Ruins is the artistic pseudonym of Hollie Fullbrook, an English-born/New Zealand-raised up-and-comer. Her eerie, haunting melodies have an insistence that renders one both relaxed and pensive at the same time. Eat your heart out Runga and Moa! Her album Some Were Meant For Sea is released this Read more...

Proctology -13

Posted 3:30am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The Proctor had some words of wisdom to impart this week about “planking”, a recent fad that involves lying down with your arms by your sides in weird public places and photographing it. In short; don’t do it. There have apparently been some students planking around campus recently, Read more...

Police institute highly realistic plan to arrest 30,000 for standing up at rugby game

Posted 3:28am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

Many students are outraged, and frankly a tad bewildered, after hearing that the Dunedin police force are planning to clamp down on Mexican waves at rugby games in the new Forsyth Barr Stadium. The configuration of the new stadium means that in certain places the crowd will be less than six Read more...

Cagey Issue. Eggscellent bad pun potential.

Posted 3:11am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Kari Schmidt

A motion requesting that food outlets on campus stop using factory-farmed products has been included as part of the OUSA referendum, which has been open for voting since May 23 and closes on June 2. However, some students have expressed doubts about whether the motion, ostensibly supported by Read more...

OUSA wants a share of the COC?

Posted 12:17am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Lozz Holding

A motion is being put to students in the current student referendum that would see the 2006 motion that OUSA officially opposes the Student Code of Conduct (COC) rescinded, and would also void the referendum result of 2005 wherein students voted that OUSA should be in opposition to the Code. Read more...

Presidential Candidates Debate: Showdown of the Century

Posted 12:14am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

0.25% of Students Listen. The campaign period is officially underway for the four candidates running for the role of President of OUSA in the upcoming by-election.   Candidates are current Acting President Bradley Russell, Welfare Officer Shonelle Eastwood, Colleges and Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 13

Posted 12:10am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Sam Reynolds

As exams draw nearer, more and more residents are being forced to join the fashion parade that is going to the library in Dunedin. The library is traditionally more hated by blokes than the fuckwit who invented the dildo. However, this year is different as residents don’t have the comfort of halls Read more...

Best result in a decade for Polytech

Posted 12:00am Wednesday 6th July 2011 by Staff Reporter

The Otago Polytechnic has achieved its highest operating surplus in a decade, climbing $2.26 million into the black for the last operating year. The surplus comes despite a difficult economic climate and a reduction in core government support for polytechnics in recent times. Chief Executive Read more...

New cancer research from Otago

Posted 11:58pm Tuesday 5th July 2011 by Lauren Enright

It is possible that a new anti-cancer therapy could be developed based on research coming out of the University of Otago. The research builds on the University’s earlier discovery that PAX genes, important in embryonic development, also allow cancer cells to grow and divide in adult Read more...

Robots to invade link

Posted 11:57pm Tuesday 5th July 2011 by Andrew Oliver

OUSA and the University of Otago’s Applied Science Students Association (ASSA) will be hosting their inaugural Robot Wars on Tuesday July 12. The remote-controlled battle-bots will be pitted against one another in a duel to the death for a winner-takes-all prize of at least $250, according to Read more...

Lawrence Arabia

Posted 11:44pm Monday 30th May 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Lawrence Arabia is not Arabic. He's more of the European Caucasian variety, hailing from that most shaky of South Island centres, Christchurch. In fact, his name isn't even Lawrence. It's James. James Milne. He produces some pretty kick-ass beats though, and is putting some more together for our Read more...

OUSA Student Forum mobbed by capacity crowd of politically-informed students. Lol.

Posted 5:00am Monday 30th May 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

Last Tuesday OUSA held its first student forum of 2011. Eight motions were discussed, all of which are to be put to online referendum between May 23 and June 2. Included in the referendum will be motions addressing amendments to the OUSA constitution, the Code of Student Conduct and interest free Read more...

Dodgy Dude gets Double Downed

Posted 4:56am Monday 30th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Police have praised two Otago students for their quick actions in apprehending a man lurking around their community. Critic understands that the 49 year old was caught masturbating over a girl getting changed through the window. Sam Howie and Henry Caulton chased the man in the early hours of Read more...

Graduation speech didn’t fly?

Posted 4:49am Monday 30th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The graduation address given by Air New Zealand senior manager Vanessa Stoddart at the May 15 ceremony has been criticised by many of those present, with some attendees claiming the speech was more of an Air New Zealand promotion than an inspiration to the graduates. Stoddart, an Otago law and Read more...

Execrable - 12

Posted 4:43am Monday 30th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Tuesday’s Exec meeting was a lengthy one, and to make matters worse the temperature of the room was conducive only to freezing the balls off a brass monkey. Luckily Critic was put in charge of ordering pizza partway into the ordeal, which significantly increased our tolerance for boring Exec stuff. Read more...

Student loan system plundered like Scandinavian township in Viking times

Posted 7:53am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The 2011 Budget announcement has slashed student loan and allowance entitlements, as the government tightens the collective belt in an effort to get New Zealand to stop bleeding money like a drunk in Vegas. As expected, borrowing for over 55s is to be restricted to course fees only, and borrowing Read more...

University appoints new Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Posted 7:48am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Staff Reporter

Critic waited for a hole to appear in our briefs page before reporting that the University of Otago has appointed a new Deputy Vice Chancellor to replace the newly announced Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne. Professor Richard Blaikie, currently a a Professor at the University of Canterbury and Read more...

Kidnapped by Mickey

Posted 7:47am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Hana Aoake

Despite being at the bottom of the world, Otago students are attracting attention from the wonderful world of Disney. Last Monday Disney World recruiters visited Burns (the Arts building) to promote their range of Florida-based work programmes. Disney recruiters visited the University for the Read more...

“Double Down” Burger = Double Workload for KFC Staff

Posted 7:46am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Basti Menkes

Employees of KFC have said that the introduction of the bun-less Double Down Burger has greatly increased their workload and created tension in their restaurants. The new limited-edition burger consists of "bacon, two different kinds of melted cheese, and the Colonel’s 'secret' Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 12

Posted 7:43am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Lozz Holding

Freshers are hated by everyone at university, there is no arguing that. Cruelly no freshers understand why this is at the moment, but don’t worry my young squires; it will all make sense next year. To be honest, I don’ t really know exactly why we all hate you, but rest assured we can all spot a Read more...

Blackboard misuse rampant. Critic happy as makes good filler story.

Posted 7:41am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

Critic’s continued coverage of nonsense filler stories relating to students sending silly messages on the Blackboard email system has sparked further silly messages, resulting in Critic writing another filler story. Aware of - but ultimately unconcerned by - the self-perpetuating cycle of lowest Read more...

Exec votes on Planet Media Review recommendations, results still unclear

Posted 7:39am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The OUSA Executive has asked the Planet Media Review Panel to revisit the majority of its findings, including recommendations that Critic and Radio 1 be immediately absorbed under the OUSA umbrella. At a meeting just over a week ago, the Executive officially considered the recommendations Read more...

Michael Woodhouse

Posted 5:58am Thursday 26th May 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

He recounted tales of his working days. He left school and worked for a bank on George St, flatted where the National Bank is now and played professional rugby on his O.E in Scotland. Returning to Dunedin at 25, he studied for a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting. Following on from that, he did his Read more...

Proctology -11

Posted 8:27am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Despite the Proctor telling Critic that statistics would indicate that the standard of student behaviour is going up, a number of youthful delinquents around campus are still keeping him in a job. In a rare example of female misconduct, a flat of girls have been using a neighbouring Read more...

Otago finally ranked top at something other than couch fires per head of population

Posted 8:24am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Andrew Oliver

The University of Otago’s Oceanography Department has been ranked number one in the world according to a global ranking of oceanographic institutions published in the UK magazine Times Higher Education. The rankings were compiled by Thomson Reuters’ Essential Science Indicators and cover the period Read more...

Like a rat from a sinking ship…

Posted 8:22am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

OUSA President Harriet Geoghegan has resigned mid way through her second year in the role, leaving the association without a President and a permanent General Manager with the prospect of Voluntary Student Membership (VSM) looming. Geoghegan told Critic that a combination of factors had led to her Read more...

University skips foreplay, goes straight to rough penetration

Posted 8:20am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte with reporting by Lozz Holding

The University of Otago Property Services division is prevaricating like a motherfucker when deciding whether or not to boot some students out of their flats mid year to make way for a new Castle St day care centre. The prolonged saga can only now be reported in Critic after the University stalled Read more...

Execrable-ish

Posted 8:17am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The Exec meeting was dominated by discussion of the Planet Media Review, which has the potential to heavily impact upon both Radio One and Critic (your fave magazine evah). A total of 33 recommendations were discussed by the Exec; if you can’t imagine how long that took, imagine nearly four Read more...

Downing the Double Down. Stoners Everywhere Rejoice

Posted 8:15am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Staff Reporter

After a frenzied storm of media excitement, KFC’ s infamous Double Down burger was released in stores last Tuesday. Critic was in such anticipation of this that we literally wet ourselves with excitement while waiting in line for our first taste of the chicken creation. The novel burger casts Read more...

OUSA to spit-roast students. Constitution style.

Posted 8:12am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte with reporting by Aimee Gulliver

Two different versions of the proposed OUSA student constitution will be put to student referendum on May 23 to June 2. The move comes after Colleges and Communications Officer Francisco Hernandez and Finance and Services Officer Dan Stride collected signatures from enough students to force the Read more...

Students mourn end of Air New Zealand monopoly

Posted 8:09am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

Students expressed a collective sigh of dismay as Jetstar announced it was entering the Auckland to Dunedin domestic flight market from July 14. Many students told Critic that they were concerned that Jetstar offering flights to Auckland out of Dunedin would mean they would now have no excuse not Read more...

More scholarships

Posted 8:07am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Lauren Enright

University of Otago students have received a total of $34,000 in Freemasons’ scholarships. Postgraduate student Phillipa Struthers gained a $10,000 scholarship, and four undergraduate students - Yeri Kim, Leah Hamilton, Chris Bloomer and Griegan Panckhurst - all received $6000 each. Struthers is Read more...

Top Scholar Award for Otago student

Posted 8:03am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

University of Otago student David Bellamy has been awarded the 2010 Prime Minister's Award for Academic Excellence as the highest-achieving secondary school pupil in New Zealand. The 17-year old Health Science student graduated from Christ's College last year, gaining NCEA Level 3 with excellence Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 11

Posted 7:56am Thursday 19th May 2011 by Sam Reynolds

It was another good week on Castle Street, with the gossip queens having a field day after a lock in and a few red cards causing enough drama to deserve a place on E! Channel. But first some very sad news, as Stewie (a much loved little pig) has gone missing in a somewhat dubious manner. Stewie was Read more...

Robert Patman

Posted 4:53am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

What a week! Wills and Kate got married, the Breakers won the Australasian Basketball League, NATO killed Ghaddafi's son, Trump got roasted by Obama, Syria took out some more of its citizens and the US killed their number one enemy, Osama Bin Laden. Robert Patman is the Professor of International Read more...

Executive not happy family (apparently Critic are though?)

Posted 4:48am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Last week’s Executive meeting took place on Thursday night as Critic was going to print. Dramas, clusterfucks, and resignation threats ensued. At the meeting, Administrative Vice President Brad Russell and Education Officer Katie Reid moved a motion to send amended constitutional changes to the Read more...

Critic brutalised. Prison style.

Posted 4:44am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The OUSA-initiated review of Planet Media has been presented to the OUSA Executive meeting, with Critic’s present performance and future independence being brought sharply into question. The results of the OUSA-initiated review of Planet Media, the parent company of which Critic forms a part, were Read more...

Nation mourns as Auckland Uni wins something

Posted 4:41am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Lozz Holding

The annual University Games competition took place in Auckland over four days during the Easter Break from April 26 to 29. At least 2000 participants in over 20 sporting disciplines competed in the event that was nonsensically named “2011 Super City Uni Games”. Otago University went into the games Read more...

University of Auckland graduation drama

Posted 4:38am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The University of Auckland graduation ceremony of Monday May 2 got testy when university staff tried to prevent a graduating student from wearing a rosette in support of academic staff. Vernon Tava, a Masters of Law student, was asked to remove the rosette, which was identical to those being worn Read more...

Government shovels money at youth unemployment

Posted 4:34am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Staff Reporter

The government announced that $55.2million over four years will be allocated to a youth training program in a bid to fight unemployment. The scheme will pay employers in high demand areas a subsidy in return for supporting the training of young people and giving them employment. Employers would be Read more...

Alcohol Reform Bill

Posted 4:23am Thursday 12th May 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

According to University of Otago analysis, the Alcohol Reform Bill will fall short of having a significant impact on New Zealand drinking culture. Presently before parliament, the bill is designed to minimise the harm caused by excessive or inappropriate consumption of liquor. If passed, it Read more...

Bouncing off the Halls - 10

Posted 12:03am Tuesday 10th May 2011 by Lozz Holding

Most of us are here at uni in the hope of scoring ourselves a comfortable job, as well as a big fat paycheque, at the end of it all. Two boys from Arana, however, are not on the same wavelength. Forget a desk job; these two daredevils appear to prefer the adrenaline rush of adventure and the Read more...

Critic’s coverage of teaching resource misuse continues. We are not encouraging it though. Well actually we kind of are.

Posted 12:00am Tuesday 10th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The Blackboard dating craze predicted by Critic has partially eventuated, with BSNS102 student Sam Poulter being the latest in a short line of University of Otago Commerce students to misuse the online learning tool. Just after 1pm on Tuesday May 3, Poulter sent a Blackboard email to the entire Read more...

Obituary

Posted 11:56pm Monday 9th May 2011 by Hana Aoake

On Monday May 2, Dunedin personality Larry Matthews was found dead in his George Street apartment. His death came as a shock to those who knew him, and he will be sorely missed both within the arts community and throughout wider Dunedin. Larry was an artist, designer, poet, writer, magician, Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 10

Posted 11:52pm Monday 9th May 2011 by Sam Reynolds

After the Easter break, Castle Street residents have quickly slipped back into the routine of getting drunk and doing drugs to escape the cold, damp reality that is flatting in Dunedin. This routine is broken only by the odd assignment or, in some cases, if it’s time to go for a wave. It’s a Read more...

Stuart White

Posted 5:47am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

The Legal Services Bill is now law. On April 11, 2011 it passed through the final hurdle of New Zealand's legislative process, the granting of royal assent by our Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand. The act aims to provide legal services to those with insufficient means, and to deliver these Read more...

Proctology

Posted 4:15am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

After an absence of far too long, a whole eight issues in fact, Critic is proud to once again bring you Proctology. Critic’s first meeting with the Proctor was a nervy affair. After getting used to the familiar sight of TailGunner Joe, the Proctor was instantly suspicious of a new face, especially Read more...

Student loans to remain interest free. Students to remain OTP.

Posted 4:12am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The government has announced that significant changes to the student loan scheme will be included in the Budget of May 19. However, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce confirmed that student loans will remain interest free for those students residing in the country. Among the changes to the Read more...

Otago catches up with AUT

Posted 4:09am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The University of Otago has moved to standardise its Honours degree system, moving to the “3+1 model” currently used by other universities nationwide. The move comes after a University working party recommended the change, which is intended to substantially improve the administrative aspect of Read more...

Dunedin to transform from cold shithole into busy, cold shithole

Posted 4:05am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

The month of May in Dunedin is characterised by graduating students descending on the city in droves for the three graduation weekends. Restaurants, accommodation and flights are booked months in advance to ensure the availability of each element of graduates’ last weekend of scarfie debauchery Read more...

Execrable - 9

Posted 3:48am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Last Exec meeting saw a change of scene for the meeting’s location. With the Capping Show practicing in the boardroom, Critic and the Exec relocated to the OUSA office, behind the desk where you all hand in lost property and the like. This had the added bonus of having couches as seating, so if Read more...

Otago film selected for festival

Posted 3:46am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Lozz Holding

A controversial film by University of Otago student James Muir has been selected to screen in the London International Documentary Festival in May. River Dog is an environmental documentary that follows Muir’s father’s battle to stop farmers grazing stock on the Pahaoa riverbed in the Read more...

NZ Pair place third in international law competition

Posted 3:42am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Lozz Holding

University of Otago law students Nic Blumsky-Gibbs and Sean Conway gained third place in an international client consultation contest in the Netherlands earlier this month. The duo entered the contest’s final with a perfect score. Ultimately the competition was won by a team from Jamaica, Read more...

Law Study Released

Posted 3:31am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Timaru’s finest export, University of Otago Law Facult Professor Mark Henaghan, has said that more can be done to reduce delays in processing civil cases through the court system. Professor Henaghan, Dr Saskia Righarts and Rachel Laing have recently authored a preliminary study on civil case Read more...

Chronicles of Castle - 9

Posted 3:28am Thursday 5th May 2011 by Sam Reynolds

Most people headed home for Easter, leaving Castle Street as hollow and empty as the social life of a Health Sci student. Luckily for us there was enough muppet behaviour before Easter to keep us going. This story happened a while ago but it’s worth the retelling as one poor fellow had a Read more...

Fonterra

Posted 4:07am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Georgie Fenwicke

Is there a method to this madness? John Campbell has been raging against high dairy and milk prices for weeks. We pay too much, says he. Why should Australians get cheaper milk and cheese than we do? We make the stuff, after all. Fonterra, the country's largest dairy producer, responded by freezing Read more...

Apocalypse Now. Possibly.

Posted 3:51am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Disclaimer: article full of doom, gloom and ranty quotes An OUSA panel set up to review the future of its media company Planet Media took submissions last week, and will report to the OUSA executive on the 3rd of May with their findings.   OUSA has been reviewing all its assets and Read more...

Execrable - 8

Posted 3:46am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

Last week’s Exec meeting welcomed in OUSA’s two newest members, Postgrad Rep Thomas Koentges, and International Students Rep Art Kojarunchitt. And WHAT a first meeting for them to have come to… The bulk of the meeting was taken up with a formal complaint from former OUSA Financial Service Officer Read more...

Roman Empire declined, domestic enrolment numbers just following the trend.

Posted 3:43am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Teuila Fuatai

Stricter entry requirements to the University of Otago have seen a reduction in Semester One enrolments. With penalties for exceeding their allocated domestic roll cap, the University raised entry requirements in Semester Two last year and introduced a two-tier domestic enrolment system this Read more...

OUSA brings in the suits

Posted 3:41am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Aimee Gulliver

OUSA has engaged Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, better known as Deloitte, to take over general management of OUSA. OUSA called in the world’s largest private professional services firm to fill the gap left by the resignation of General Manager Stephen Alexander.   Sources Read more...

Heated Debate Over Coal Burners

Posted 3:39am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Lozz Holding

Students for Environmental Action (SEA) are pushing for the University to clean up its act and swap its current unsustainable use of coal burners around campus for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option. SEA has expressed its concern about the issue, stating that using coal for Read more...

Education Amendment Bill (No. 4) somewhat controversial

Posted 3:31am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Staff Reporter

The Education Amendment Bill (No. 4) was introduced to Parliament recently and had its first reading under urgency last week. The Bill makes a number of changes to the Education Act, including establishing a new Crown agent Education New Zealand. Perhaps of particular interest to students is that Read more...

Science Communication Centre Booming

Posted 3:29am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Gregor Whyte

The University of Otago’s Centre for Science Communication has enjoyed phenomenal growth over the last four years, and is now the third most popular masters degree program at the University. The program opened in 2008, enrolling a single student. At the end of last year the program had 24 Read more...

Anzac Day Wreath

Posted 3:28am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Staff Reporter

OUSA plans to lay a wreath at next Monday’s Anzac day service. OUSA President Harriet Geoghegan told Critic  “We lay a wreath every year and I haven't heard any suggestions from Exec members that we may not continue that practice.”   We were just checking. Read more...

Shanghai scholarships for University and Polytechnic

Posted 3:27am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Staff Reporter

Visiting delegates from the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade University have offered 10 summer study scholarships to Dunedin students as part of fostering the relationship between the sister cities. Five scholarship are allocated to the University of Otago, with five for the Otago Polytechnic. Read more...

Members of community outraged over arrest of boy for breaking the law. Critic confused.

Posted 3:23am Wednesday 27th April 2011 by Lozz Holding

A 15 year old male was arrested on the Union Lawn on Friday the 8th of April after allegedly shoplifting from the $2 shop. Eyewitness reports claim the youth entered campus in between the two OUSA offices on Cumberland St, and sat down in the middle of the NORML 4.20 pro-cannabis Read more...