Archive

Iso Rules Baffle Students

Posted 2:52pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Denzel Chung

Jake, a Master’s student living in Brighton, is in the middle of a 20 day isolation.  “At the end of our first 10-day isolation we were all joking and saying “oh we’re gonna get it again, haha, we’re gonna have to restart”, and then that’s exactly Read more...

New IPCC Report: Impending Irreversible Climate Devastation (again)

Posted 2:35pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Zak Rudin

As if a global pandemic and the threat of world war weren’t enough, the cheerful souls at the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have threatened climate-related mayhem will be coming for us as well. Again.  The IPCC report, “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Read more...

CCTV Project Phase 3 Foiled by Covid-19, Budget Constraints

Posted 2:33pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Zak Rudin

The University’s plans to install more CCTV cameras around North D has hit a snag. The culprit: our old friend Covid-19.  The new CCTVs were planned to be placed on Union Street, between Campus and Unipol. They had claimed that this move would provide “safety for students and Read more...

Clubs Struggling without Clubs Day

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Denzel Chung

The Omicron outbreak really screwed up many clubs’ recruitment plans. Most are relying on social media and word-of-mouth, but are finding they cannot replace a good ol’ Clubs Day tent. For the Otago University Tramping Club (OUTC), historically the largest club on campus by Read more...

“Good Karma” Nets OUSA’s $800 Camping Giveaway

Posted 1:56pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Fox Meyer

OUSA recently held an online giveaway for $800 worth of new camping gear. The winner, Tayla, reckoned that “good karma” won her the grand prize, which she is hoping to show off at R&A.  “Never have I ever won something like this,” said Tayla. She’d entered a Read more...

Peace and Conflict Centre Begins Improvements

Posted 1:53pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Denzel Chung

A review into the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies has found an “unsustainably toxic” workplace culture despite “excellent” teaching staff and “enthusiastic” students. The University of Otago has committed to a “fundamental reset” in Read more...

Anti-war Protest in the Octagon as Russia Invades Ukraine

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 6th March 2022 by Denzel Chung

A crowd of around 50, including Ukrainians, Russians and others, amassed in the lower Octagon on the 26th to peacefully protest Russian aggression against Ukraine. An anti-mandate convoy passed through at the same time, providing a backdrop of honking, yelling and loud music. The group gathered Read more...

Offshore Students Frustrated but Hopeful

Posted 3:04pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Ransford Antwi

Hundreds of international Otago students are stuck overseas, paying full fees for an educational experience that many feel is not reflective of the cost.  If you thought a few weeks of online lectures and Zoom tutes was rough, imagine what it’s like to be an international student stuck Read more...

Flo and O Parties: Dying But Not Quite Dead

Posted 2:56pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Denzel Chung, Keegan Wells & Ruby Werry

Flo and O-Weeks were notably quieter this year, with Covid cases on Castle sending a chill through North D’s collective spine. Apart from the usual suspects, though, most students seemed to make a reasonable effort at following the rules. Flo saw a sleepy Castle, with few students on the Read more...

OUSA Gives out 650 “Gifts of Generosity and Grace”

Posted 2:51pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Fox Meyer

In less than a week, OUSA has distributed 650 care packages to isolating students across the city. The initiative comes as Omicron rips through the student population in North Dunedin.  These packages are being delivered free of charge to students who are isolating. They contain food staples Read more...

Where the Hell are all these Wasps Coming From?

Posted 2:47pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Fox Meyer

Wasp populations are at their yearly high, and students have reported fear, frustration and an “absolute fuck-ton” of the stinging insects around town. Critic Te Arohi reached out to the Zoology Department to get to the bottom of this. The short answer is simple: wasp colonies follow Read more...

Management Meddling Moves Fresher Frenzy From Friday

Posted 2:43pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

It was no coincidence. In a bid to end “antisocial behaviour” on Health Sci Friday, the Proctor worked together with Uni management to shift Health Sci exam dates last year. This attempt to minimise partying worked about as well as you would expect. With the final HSFY exam for Read more...

Proctor Cracks Down on Alcoholic Flat Party Sponsors

Posted 2:41pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Sean Gourley

Some alcohol companies who have been unofficial sponsors of student flat parties have not been fined, but appear to have received a very stern talking to by the Proctor and the Police. According to the Proctor’s disciplinary report for 2021, some “alcohol manufacturers were Read more...

New ID Cards: Frothed by Freshers, Loathed by Most

Posted 2:38pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Ruby Werry

The Uni has made big changes to enhance ID card security in 2022, bringing in a new, “minimalist,” overwhelmingly white design. Our informal survey suggested almost everyone hates it - with the notable exception of first-years, who don’t know any better. After the Proctor raised Read more...

$4 Lunches Under New Management

Posted 2:33pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

For the first time in over 20 years, OUSA’s famous $4 lunches will no longer be served by the Hare Krishna community. This is after Jane Beecroft, known as the “lunch lady” of the Hare Krishnas, announced her retirement in February.  South Dunedin restaurant Tandooree Read more...

New VC Just Dropped

Posted 2:31pm Sunday 27th February 2022 by Fox Meyer

David is your new Vice Chancellor, sort of like the Uni’s CEO. He’s an infectious disease expert, a guitar-maker, and a very kind man who looks a bit like a more scholastic Colonel Sanders. Critic recently sat down with David to give him a quick vibe check, which he passed with flying Read more...

Testing Centres "Swamped" after Castle St. Covid Case

Posted 1:40pm Thursday 17th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

Students have flocked to North Dunedin’s Covid-19 testing centre in the hours since a positive case was linked to a Castle Street party. They are now turning away asymptomatic people, asking them to self-isolate instead.   Barely two hours after the University advised all students Read more...

OUSA Discourages Partying, Receives Backlash

Posted 5:10pm Tuesday 15th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

An Instagram post requesting that students “put the parties on pause” has been taken off of OUSA’s story after receiving backlash from students. OUSA has since clarified that they “are not here to kill any good vibes for students,” but wants to ensure parties are kept Read more...

Prof. Jo Baxter Announced As New Dunedin Med School Dean

Posted 2:28pm Friday 11th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

The Dunedin School of Medicine has just announced that Professor Joanne ‘Jo’ Baxter (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō) will take over the Dean’s role from July 2022. She will be the first wahine Māori to ever hold the Read more...

Alcohol, Youth and Male-ness Define 2021’s Serious Misconduct Cases

Posted 11:26am Friday 11th February 2022 by Denzel Chung

CW: discussion of sexual misconduct cases    Every single incident of serious misconduct in 2021 was caused by first and second-year students, almost all of them male.    The Provost’s annual report for 2021 found nine incidents of “serious Read more...