Archive

Cinema Shooting Kills Two

Posted 11:23am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by India Leishman

The lives of two women have been cut short after a second cinema shooting took place in Lafayette, Louisiana, on 23 July. Jillian Johnson, 33, and Mayci Breaux, 21, were fatally shot during an evening screening of Trainwreck. The shooting left three dead, including gunman John Russell Houser, and Read more...

Cannabis Petition Lights Up Debate

Posted 11:21am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

A petition calling for the legalisation of cannabis in the United Kingdom has amassed over 150,000 signatures, making it likely to receive serious consideration in parliament. The online petition asks the government to allow the sale, production and recreational use of marijuana, citing Read more...

Tobacco Tax Could Save $3.87 Billion

Posted 11:18am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Joe Higham

Research conducted at the University of Otago shows the continuation of yearly 10 percent tax increases on tobacco will have multiple benefits for society.  The research, directed by Professor Tony Blakely, looks at the outcome of the government’s yearly 10 percent tax increase on Read more...

Prisoner Voting Ban Breaches Bill of Rights

Posted 11:15am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Joe Higham

A judgement delivered by the High Court in the recent case of Taylor v Attorney-General has deemed New Zealand’s blanket ban on prisoner voting a breach of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. Five prisoners had taken the matter to the High Court to challenge the legitimacy of the Read more...

Scarfie Grandma Spins a Yarn

Posted 11:11am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Angus Shaw

A Whangarei woman has become the decoy-grandmother of all Scarfies this week after her hand-knitted beanies were snatched up in seconds.  Geraldine Edwards has been sending the Otago Chaplain, Greg Hughson, regular boxes of hand-knitted beanies for the past few months. Her only request: Read more...

ICT Students Can Rejoyce

Posted 11:06am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Amber Allott

A new information technology graduate school, which is being built in association with local IT businesses and other South Island tertiary institutions, is set to be opened in Dunedin. From 2014 to 2018, the New Zealand government will be investing in the construction and development of Read more...

Professor Extinguishes Firewalking Fears

Posted 11:03am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

Sparks flew outside St David’s lecture theatres last week as students were invited to take part in a firewalking demonstration. Physics expert, Dr John Campbell, hosted the event, which was preceded by a public lecture on why we’re able to safely walk on the coals, which were around Read more...

Students Spark Design Intervention

Posted 10:57am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

University of Otago design students have made a submission against the proposed changes to the Applied Sciences Department. The proposal, which students became aware of earlier this month, would see the removal of Design for Technology and Clothing and Textiles as major subjects. The 16-page Read more...

Execrable | Issue 18

Posted 10:43am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Laura Munro

The executive meeting kicked off with talk of the possible closure of the design department. Announced earlier this month, a proposal by the Division of Sciences would get rid of Design for Technology and focus more on Clothing and Textiles. President Paul Hunt says he and Philippa Keaney of Student Read more...

University of Otago Foundation Trust Divests

Posted 10:41am Sunday 2nd August 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Last week, the University of Otago Foundation Trust, an entity separate to the university that holds half its investments, announced that it would be divesting from fossil fuels. The trust will now also prohibit any future investment involving the exploration for and extraction of fossil Read more...

Acceptance and Equality the Big Winners at the ESPY Awards

Posted 12:59pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

The ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) are Hollywood’s “ratings-orientated” sports awards, which recognise people for sporting as well as humanitarian contributions to society and popular culture. This year’s edition provided much Read more...

Keeping Track of the Highlanders in Black

Posted 12:43pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

By the end of August, the 43-man All Blacks squad needs to be further narrowed down to the 31 players who will head to England for the World Cup. Only five of the Super Rugby title-winning Highlanders were selected for the initial test squad, with only one of them taking part in the first two tests. Read more...

Labour Flagged for Hypocrisy

Posted 12:28pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

In a recent press release, Labour leader Andrew Little opposed the idea of changing the flag, claiming the money could be spent elsewhere. However, while Labour has been quick to bash National’s flag referendum, a review of the flag has been part of Labour’s policy since before Little Read more...

My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 17

Posted 12:20pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

Sam Lotu-liga should be sacked as a minister. That statement sounds like something you might read on Whaleoil, but it’s the truth. Last week a video emerged on YouTube, which showed a number of organised fights happening in Mt Eden prison as part of an inmate-run fight club. Following the Read more...

Government Speeds through Transport Bill

Posted 12:17pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Henry Napier

The House went into urgency last week following fears that thousands of speeding tickets issued through local councils were invalid.  The Land Transport (Speed Limits Validations and Other Matters) Bill — which sought to amend a technicality in the law that had rendered many speed Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 17

Posted 12:09pm Sunday 26th July 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Italy Italy’s farm animals are being given showers, fans and air conditioning in their stalls to try to keep them cool during the current heatwave there. Temperatures in Italy have reached up to 40°C and this has caused a fall in production on the country’s Read more...

Elections to Replace FIFA President

Posted 11:56am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

FIFA announced last Monday that elections will be held next February to replace its controversial president, Sepp Blatter. The election is part of a series of overhauls and reforms designed to restore the organisation’s image after a year of corruption allegations. Blatter, speaking at a Read more...

Mitsubishi Apologises for Torture of Prisoners

Posted 11:54am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Joe Higham

An apology has been issued by Japanese corporation, Mitsubishi, for its use of American prisoners of war during World War Two. The prisoners were used for forced labour at Mitsubishi factories throughout Japan. It has been said that the use of the prisoners of war was deemed necessary to fill Read more...

Five Servicemen Killed at Military Base

Posted 11:51am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

On 16 July, a lone gunman opened fire on two military bases in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The shooting, which occurred shortly after 10am, killed five servicemen. Another serviceman and a policeman were left injured, and the shooter was also killed at the scene. Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who was Read more...

Execrable | Issue 17

Posted 11:30am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Bridie Boyd

Executive meetings have been scarce for the past two months , though President Paul Hunt said the team needs to get “back into the swing” of things and start meeting “weekly”. The team were as enthusiastic as Critic about this prospect. Two clubs were affiliated Read more...

Students Remain Poor in Thriving City

Posted 11:04am Sunday 26th July 2015 by India Leishman

Business and Economic Research Limited (BERL) has released its 2014 report, which shows positive growth in Dunedin’s economic and employment sectors in the year to March 2014. The report also shows encouraging results in the tourism and creative sectors. Economically, Dunedin grew by 2.2 Read more...

They’re Giving Us More Money

Posted 11:02am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Laura Munro

The University of Otago has announced two new undergraduate scholarships and increased the values for eight of the scholarships currently offered. The University of Otago New Frontiers Scholarship and the University of Otago Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, were approved in a council meeting Read more...

Aoraki Students “Worried” about Proposed Merger

Posted 10:59am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Joe Higham

Aoraki Polytechnic is considering closing its Dunedin campus in a possible merger with Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology.  Founded in 1987, the polytechnic describes itself as a “major provider of tertiary education and training in Mid and South Canterbury and North Read more...

Design Staff and Students Sacrificed

Posted 10:53am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Laura Munro

University of Otago design students have obtained, through an Official Information Act request, documents detailing the possible future, or lack of, for design at Otago. The first document is a review of the Department of Applied Sciences conducted in late 2014. The second is a proposal to get Read more...

Party Restrictions “Ridiculous”

Posted 10:49am Sunday 26th July 2015 by Angus Shaw

View Street’s controversial “Backpackers” flat was forced to cancel a planned party last week, despite getting initial approval from the Dunedin City Council and local police. The “Backpackers’ Ball,” a tradition of several years, was scheduled for Friday 17 Read more...

State of Origin

Posted 12:00pm Sunday 19th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

After the game in Apia, the All Blacks and Samoa players swapped shirts, shared some laughs and posed together for pictures with fans in what seemed to be a very calm atmosphere of camaraderie, mutual respect and sportsmanship. Just a few hours later there was a distinctly different atmosphere in Read more...

All Blacks Make History with Samoa Test

Posted 11:57am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Last week saw a rare doubleheader of big rugby matches with the first ever All Blacks test match in Samoa and then the State of Origin series decider in Brisbane. These two games showed how two very different rivalries can play out. The State of Origin players and fans seem to want to hurt each Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 16

Posted 11:32am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Denmark Archaeologists are mystified after finding nearly 2000 tiny golden spirals in a field in eastern Denmark. The coils date from between 900BC and 700BC, but the archaeologists are not quite sure what they have found.  Florida, United States A man convicted of having Read more...

Hager Hits Back Against “Invasive” Raid

Posted 11:26am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Henry Napier

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager took his case before the High Court in Wellington last week to seek a judicial review of the raid that took place last October following the release of his book, Dirty Politics. The book — which focused on the relationship between right-wing blogger, Read more...

Labour Stirs Race Debate

Posted 11:24am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Henry Napier

The Labour Party has come under a flood of controversy following comments made last week by housing spokesperson, Phil Twyford. Appearing on TV3’s The Nation, Twyford claimed that Chinese buyers, many of whom were likely based overseas, were responsible for around 40 percent of property Read more...

Nuclear Agreement Struck With Iran

Posted 11:16am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

Six world powers - the US, the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - have reached an agreement with Iran to limit Iranian nuclear activity in exchange for the lifting of international oil and economic sanctions. The agreement was struck at a conference in Vienna after 20 months of Read more...

Greece Accepts “Intrusive” Bailout

Posted 11:14am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Joe Higham

After 26 hours of negotiations, an agreement on a series of economic measures has been reached between debt-ridden Greece and eurozone leaders, paving the way for a third financial bailout deal. The agreement prevents a Greek exit from the European Union for the near future and is worth up to Read more...

EU Assistance Sees Migrant Deaths Drop

Posted 11:10am Sunday 19th July 2015 by India Leishman

Recent financial boosting from the European Union has prevented the likely deaths of thousands of African migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The EU implemented Operation Triton in late April this year after shockingly high numbers of migrant deaths were reported. The operation, run by the Read more...

“Devalued” Degrees could be Discontinued

Posted 11:06am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Joe Higham

The Division of Sciences Pro-Vice Chancellor, Keith Hunter, has sent a letter to design students revealing a proposal to discontinue two applied science majors. The proposal, which is being discussed, would see Clothing and Textiles (CLTE) and Design for Technology (DETE) phased out as major Read more...

Commerce Kids Commend New Association

Posted 11:01am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Amber Allott

Business and commerce students at the University of Otago are celebrating the launch of their new Commerce Students’ Association, COMSA.  The new association was founded by two Otago students, Elliott Chow and Hilary Derrick, following the demise of previous association, OCOM. Derrick Read more...

Students Praise Rental Regulations

Posted 10:58am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Bridie Boyd

The Minister for Housing, Nick Smith, has announced new rental regulations that have potential benefits for the poor student flatting conditions in Dunedin.  The new regulations will require smoke alarms in residential rental properties, as well as ceiling and underfloor insulation. The Read more...

Blackboard Blocked after Student Falsely Accused

Posted 10:53am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Laura Munro

A University of Otago student is taking matters into his own hands after feeling he has been wronged by the university’s proctor. The student, who wishes not to be named, was given a fine and had access to his online course resources suspended for a week after Campus Watch officers Read more...

Council Protest Fails to Retain Student Voice

Posted 10:47am Sunday 19th July 2015 by Laura Munro

At a University Council meeting on 14 July 2015, the number of seats reserved for students on the council was reduced from two to one. The number of seats reserved for staff was also halved from four to two. The draft constitution, which was passed in a six to nine vote, reserved four ministerial Read more...

Super Rugby Season Grades Confirmed

Posted 12:14pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Daniel Lormans

Now that the Super Rugby season is finished and the trophy is safely locked away down at Forsyth Barr Stadium, we can dish out final grades for our five New Zealand teams after an epic season of rugby. The Highlanders and the Hurricanes were a cut above the rest while the Chiefs ran out of steam, Read more...

NZ First Turned House of Cards

Posted 12:07pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Henry Napier

NZ First Deputy Leader Tracey Martin has been replaced in what seems a rather controversial turn of events. Last month the party’s caucus voted on the deputy leader position, leading to the appointment of Ron Mark, long-standing rival of Martin. In a post on The Daily Blog, NZ First board Read more...

Key Denies Economic Struggle

Posted 12:04pm Sunday 12th July 2015 by Hugh Baird

Prime Minister John Key has knocked back suggestions from economists that New Zealand is headed for a large economic slowdown. Speaking at a post-cabinet press conference, Key said he was “not at all panicked”. However, he did accept that there were “a few headwinds Read more...

News in Briefs | Issue 15

Posted 11:35am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Magnus Whyte

World Watch Heikendorf, Germany Police in northern Germany have seized a World War Two tank that was being kept in a pensioner’s cellar. They also removed a torpedo and an anti-aircraft gun. The army had to be called in, and it took about 20 soldiers almost nine hours to extract the Read more...

South Carolina Senate Approves Anti-Flag Bill

Posted 11:28am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

The South Carolina senate gave its final approval for the removal of the Confederate flag from the capitol grounds on Tuesday 7 July 2015. The governor and nearly all state senators support the removal, and petitioners have collected hundreds of thousands of signatures. In a vote on the bill on Read more...

Another Australian Faces the Death Penalty

Posted 11:25am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Oliver Gaskell

An intellectually disabled Australian man could face the death penalty after being charged with attempting to smuggle illegal drugs out of China. Lawyers defending Brisbane man, Ibrahim Jalloh, 26, have said in a press conference that Jalloh was tricked into smuggling more than two kilograms of Read more...

Greece Rejects EU Bailout

Posted 11:23am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Angus Shaw

After rejecting an international bailout, Greece has chosen to play spin the bottle with its financial future. The final results of Monday’s referendum show 61.3 percent voted against and 38.7 percent for the terms of the proposed 29 billion euro bailout.  Greece’s governing Read more...

Otago Student Wins Worldwide Essay Prize

Posted 11:17am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Laura Munro

A University of Otago student was recently awarded his certificate for winning an international essay contest earlier this year.  Martin Holmes, a third-year history student, was announced as the winner of a worldwide competition for his essay titled “The World Needs To Read more...

Muscle Loss with Surgical Trainees

Posted 11:10am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Bridie Boyd

In the latest of a string of unfortunate events, Dunedin Hospital has lost the right to train orthopedic surgeons. This comes as the hospital is fighting to regain ICU accreditation, leaking roofs are forcing the cancellation of surgeries, food contracts are proving controversial and a deficit of Read more...

Health-e Campus Website Launched

Posted 11:07am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Zahra Shahtahmasebi

The University of Otago’s Student Health Services have initiated a new service in the form of a website, Healthy Campus. The website, an extension of the University of Otago website, was initiated by Director of Student Health Services, Dr. Kim Ma’ia’i, after a conversation he had Read more...

NZUSA Demands OUSA Pays $22,500...Again

Posted 11:00am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Joe Higham

The New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has sent a letter to OUSA in response to its decision to “reallocate” the $22,500 it owes to NZUSA. The letter requests that OUSA pay the fee, which is the second half of its $45,000 membership for 2015. At the end of last Read more...

Execrable | Issue 14

Posted 10:57am Sunday 12th July 2015 by Laura Munro

The first issue brought to the table was the upcoming election, which will decide the 2016 executive. After much discussion, it was agreed that nominations will run from 9am on 8 September to 4pm on 15 September. Voting will run from 9am on 21 September to 4pm on 30 September. Voting will be by Read more...