Archive
Medical library to make way for animal testing lab
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
The University of Otago is planning to turn the Medical Library into an animal-testing laboratory. The decision follows after an outbreak of parasitic worms that occurred at the current animal-testing lab. The parasitic outbreak posed no health risk to researchers or other staff. A statement Read more...
OUSA Awards: Hypothermic students rejoice
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Emily Draper
2014 is the second year OUSA has held the Landlord Awards, previously named the Best/Worst Flat Awards. The change in name is intended to “place pressure on landlords to provide quality rental accommodation,” whilst also “showcasing landlords who do a great job in promoting student wellbeing,” says Read more...
Te Roopu
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Mariana Te Pou
Kia ora koutou katoa ngā tauira o Te Whare Wānanga o Otākou: Ko tēnei te wiki o te reo Māori. Kua tae ki te wā kia whai koe i tō reo Māori. Ko te kaupapa “Te Kupu O Te Wiki”. Engari, e hiahia ana ahau kia ako koutou he kupu hou i a rā mo tenei wiki. Read more...
Otago law students' life on the inside
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Anna Whyte
Law for Change, a national group of over 350 young lawyers and law students, are donating their time to helping with rehabilitation at the Otago Correction Facility. The members are all volunteering their skills and time to work on projects that address the unmet legal needs of local communities. Read more...
Students trying to avoid a life of debt
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Students are continuing to pursue more than just a degree whilst they spend time at the University of Otago. With an upcoming recruitment visit by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) this week, Critic has spoken to a number of current and former students who have completed their studies whilst on Read more...
"Discount to rule them all" now permanent
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
The Otago Regional Council has announced that the 25 per cent tertiary discount on bus fares will become permanent. The trial period for the discount ran from 17 February to 30 April 2014 and was negotiated by OUSA as part of their plan to get more students to use the bus service. OUSA President Read more...
Piece of Castle to become zone of peace
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
A Zone of Peace is to be declared covering the region from St David’s lecture theatre to the intersection of St David’s Street/Dundas Street. “It’s a voluntary initiative,” says Sung Yong Lee, lecturer at the National Peace and Conflict Centre at the University of Otago. There will be no Read more...
University athletes take on Australia
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Anna Whyte
The University of Otago has returned from competing in the Eastern Australian University Games in Newcastle, placing ninth out of the 26 teams. Otago teams were the only non-Australian teams to compete. They managed to finish with all three of their teams in the top ten. Their participation in the Read more...
The 1104 By-Election votes are in
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Paul Hunt, Payal Ramritu and Jess McLean have been elected to positions on the OUSA Executive after almost five per cent of University of Otago students voted in last week’s by-election. The results were announced last Thursday 17 July. For the role of Finance Officer, Paul Hunt won with Read more...
Mufti cops join the party, albeit sober
Posted 5:12pm Sunday 20th July 2014 by Laura Munro
New Zealand Police will now be stationing plain-clothed officers in local Dunedin bars. The new initiative came into play last month to ensure bars’ compliance with the regulations of the Sale and Supply of Liquor Act 2012, which came into effect late last year. The initiative began in Read more...
Examination recounts result in seven per cent of marks changed
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Following investigations by Critic, it has been found that in 2013, there were 315 applications for a recount of examination results at the University of Otago. Of these, 21 people had their marks changed (6.7 per cent of applications), with 10 of these resulting in a whole letter grade change. In Read more...
Greatest hits / Greatest shits | Issue 15
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest hitAs a “young person,” there’s nothing more cringe-worthy than watching non-youths attempt to become well versed in the wonderful world of the Internet if they don’t really understand how the Internet works. That makes social media campaigns hit-or-miss, and means they can either be really Read more...
Politweets | Issue 15
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Rude. You go, fake Hekia. Poor Brazil. Truth. Fake Russell gets on Labour’s Kiwi-everything bandwagon. Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 15
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
The world of political discourse has always, and will always be, full of people who speak really loudly. Sometimes, these people are members of parliament or those who are otherwise politically involved. Sometimes, they’re politics students who happen to write for a student magazine and enjoy trying Read more...
The good, the bad and the ugly of Unipol
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Daniel Lormans
This week we are checking in with the sweaty, grunting and largely ignored student fitness desk, where we know that being a University of Otago student comes with more perks than just a six-figure student debt and a decent chance to score a drunken pash at Boogie Nites. We also know that you can do Read more...
Record number of degrees in 2013
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Anna Whyte
The Government released figures showing a 20 per cent increase in undergraduate degree qualifications in 2013, compared to those in 2008. According to the results, 25,800 New Zealand students graduated from their bachelor degrees in 2013. In 2008, 20,800 were completed. Tertiary Education Minister Read more...
High performing polytech wins popularity contest
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
Otago Polytechnic is showing an outstanding level of performance. As discussed at an Otago Polytechnic Council meeting on 4 July, the Polytechnic recently received three national teaching awards and the student roll has been rising rapidly, with a predicted increase of 10 per cent this year. Read more...
University to fork out $650m for upgrades
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Nina Harrap
The University of Otago is set to spend $650 million on campus upgrades over the next 15 years. The new Priority Development Plan (PDP), recently approved by the University Council, includes over 20 upgrades. These include major changes to seven faculties, a number of health and safety Read more...
The great OUSA by-election of 2014
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Critic
Following the departure of four executive members last semester, nominations have been received for the positions of Finance Officer, Welfare Officer, and Colleges and Communications Officer. The positions of Finance Officer and Welfare Officer each have two candidates running for the roles, whilst Read more...
Open textbooks launch at Otago
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro
University of Otago lecturers have recently led an Open Educational Resource (OER) project in conjunction with academics and librarians from New Zealand and Australia. The open textbook Media Studies 101 was created on 16 and 17 November 2013 and is partially funded by Creative Commons New Read more...
OUSA Recreation Centre officially opened
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro
After a year-long construction process, the new OUSA Recreation Centre has officially been opened. Staff, students and members of the public attended the opening, which was held at the facility last Tuesday 8 July. Attendees gathered in the foyer as guest speakers shared their views on how Read more...
Execrable | Issue 15
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Last week’s meeting opened with discussion of the health and safety issue that is the upgrade of the barriers at OUSA’s Aquatic Centre. Originally budgeted for $18,000, OUSA now has to spend up to $42,000 on the upgrade, which they hope will last at least another 18 years. It was moved that the Read more...
No more liquor in the North D
Posted 6:52pm Sunday 13th July 2014 by Laura Munro
A liquor store located at 21 North Road has been granted a temporary off-licence for the next three months, following objections by the University of Otago to renew the licence. Store owner Preet Minhas originally applied for licence renewal on 5 June this year. The University immediately opposed Read more...
Politweets | Issue 14
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Well, that’s nice, Paula. #DJSuMo You’re not wrong, Tau. Read more...
Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 14
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest HitOur dearly beloved long-lived politician John “Banksie” Banks has resigned after a bit of a hiccup with the law. The Auckland readers of Critic will know him best, as he ruled the city with an iron fist for two separate terms (2001-2004; 2007-2010); Epsom residents will know him even Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 14
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Carys Goodwin
If you regularly read this page, you’ll know I have a bit of a fascination with Clare Curran. The Dunedin South MP/Twitter Warrior provides me with great Politweets fodder, and has tried a few times to make #cheeserolls trend. In fact, my encounter with her came down to a Twitter conversation. Read more...
Suarez
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Daniel Lormans
Welcome back to the second semester, sports fans! Plenty to catch up on so, first, let’s go to the teeth-marked World Cup desk where, without a doubt, the biggest controversy so far has been Vampire Diaries and True Blood fanboy Luis Suarez’s attempt to sneak in a mid-game snack. Now, we all like Read more...
Sharks, sex and banana stunts
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Anna Whyte
The International Science Festival is set to offer students a chance to prematurely boot their brains back into action for semester two. Taking place over Re-O Week from 5 July to 13 July, the festival will offer students a sober break from the traditional Re-O Week activities. Leading Read more...
Crimes on Cargill by violent school girls
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Three young women were assaulted in Dunedin on the night of Saturday 28 June on Cargill Street. Footage of the attack has been widely shared across social media sites, showing the women being punched and kicked by seven other teenagers. One girl was kicked in the forehead so hard that it left an Read more...
Pinging for better grades
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro
Recent research conducted at the University of Auckland has shown that six per cent of the 400 students surveyed had used drugs as a study aid. The most common drug used by students was Ritalin, a B class drug often referred to on the streets as “Ritz.” Ritalin is a medication prescribed to Read more...
Gigatown bribes students and gets #insensitive
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro
Chorus’ Gigatown competition has come under fire after a post on their Facebook page was seen as insensitive by members of the public. On 8 June, a head-on collision involving four teenagers occurred on Dunedin’s Southern Motorway. Gigatown Dunedin’s Facebook page posted a status on the day of the Read more...
The DCC's $4,000 mistake
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Laura Munro
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has mistakenly spent $3,900 of rate payer’s money on purchasing what he believed to be leg irons used to hold Maori prisoners in the Victorian Era. Cull told Critic the DCC discovered the auction when it was published in the Otago Daily Times, along with an image of Read more...
The Bye-Bi-By-Election
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
The start of the second semester will bring in a few fresh faces to the OUSA Executive, following the resignation of four Executive members at the end of the first semester. Two of the resignations were expected as Brydie Ockwell, Colleges and Communications Officer, and Nick Tenci, Finance Read more...
Execrable | Issue 14
Posted 1:08pm Sunday 6th July 2014 by Josie Cochrane
The second round of quarterly reports were presented at last week’s OUSA Executive meeting. It was to be the final meeting for four Executive members, who recently resigned, but with the exception of outgoing International Students’ Officer Kamil Saifuddin they failed to show, believing that their Read more...
Textbooks: Funding lecturers to wine and dine
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane
Purchasing textbooks is yet another cost universities expect students to meet every semester. The cost and quality of textbooks ranges enormously between papers and, too often, the matter is aggravated when lecturers only use a few chapters of the textbook, or require a new edition of the text Read more...
Politweets | Issue 13
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Snap. Clever. That is an incredible mental image. It’s ok to be bald, Tau. We all have our guilty pleasures. Read more...
Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 13
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest HitsThe Greatest Hit this week goes to a brand new political party attempting to grace New Zealand with its presence: the Civilian Party. Based on the satirical news site, the Civilian Party stands for a variety of ludicrous and hilarious things. Some of their policies include “defend the Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 13
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
On 15 May, the annual New Zealand Budget was released. For many people the word “budget” elicits an eye roll and a groan, bringing forth images of Excel spreadsheets and a motherly voice explaining exactly why you can’t buy that hideous sofa from the Sallies. In some respects, that’s exactly what Read more...
One of the many reasons I am not in the All Blacks
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans
To the superlatively super Super Rugby desk, which has shaken itself from its slumber and is starting to get exciting. We all know I am a sucker for a nice drop goal and Hayden Parker’s golden boot has been in good form, racking up all 18 points for the Highlanders against the Hurricanes. Read more...
Sausage gets messy at SGM
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane
The Student General Meeting (SGM) was held at 12.35pm last Thursday outside the OUSA office, in order to notify OUSA members of last year’s constitutional breach at the NZUSA election. The breach in question occurred when three representatives of OUSA attended the NZUSA election last year. Read more...
Proctology
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Claudia Herron
This week’s visit to the Proctor saw students fronting the cost of their drunken antics by way of joy rides in the ambulance, trips to the dry cleaners and stolen lunches. While many end up at A&E on a Saturday with little recollection of how their injuries were sustained, the Proctor was Read more...
Pickering picks OUSA pockets
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Emily Draper
Talented Ice Hockey player Luke Pickering was among the eight talented students selected in the first round of Individual OUSA Grants this year. OUSA have awarded 45 Individual and Club Grants so far this year, and have completed two out of six rounds of grants. Pickering used his $500 grant Read more...
St David’s 2 receives $9.65 million upgrade to not fall
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Laura Munro
St David’s 2 will become the new home to the Department of Applied Science following a $9.65 million upgrade necessary to increase the building’s earthquake safety rating. Originally constructed in 1997 and formerly used for Foundation Studies, the building was measured in 2014 to be at 34 per cent Read more...
Poppa's sale complicated by lease extension refusal
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Claudia Herron
The future of another student institution is up in the air with Poppa’s Pizza on the market and the current landlord unwilling to comment on its future after the lease’s expiry. The existing lease is set to terminate in December 2016, with the current operator, Steve Munro, saying, “I’ve done my Read more...
DCC to trial pedestrian precint
Posted 2:07pm Sunday 25th May 2014 by Nina Harrap
Two Otago post-graduate students are working to transform the lower Octagon into a pedestrian precinct with their submission to the DCC’s Annual Plan gaining momentum and support from councillors. Georgina Hampton, a PhD student in Genetics, and Alexis Belton, an honours student in Geology, Read more...
Dunedin flats to be rated, warranted and starred
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Josie Cochrane
“Many of the landlords are nervous about it and maybe they should be,” says Rate My Flat co-founder, Lindsey Horne. Ratemyflat.org.nz is yet another scheme putting the pressure on landlords to improve rental accommodation. The new flat rating system will launch next semester with the intention of Read more...
Greatest Hits / Greatest Shits | Issue 12
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Greatest HitsOver the past few weeks, Campbell Live has been running an “at home with the leaders” segment, where John Campbell goes to party leaders’ houses and eats the dinner they cook. While it might be a strange twist on Come Dine With Me, it’s a good way to see what the leaders are like as Read more...
Politweets | Issue 12
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
Clare tells @g_townnz what parliamentary office training comprises. I look forward to the whole musical. Banks also watches Campbell Live. Whatever “floats your boat.” Considering I have my own selfie with him, I’m disappointed. What? Read more...
Critic tackles election year | Issue 12
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Carys Goodwin
For many of you, this will be your first election; and if you’re into politics enough to be reading this, that’s very exciting. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been picking brains and studying policy in an effort to present a few of the people who you’ll have the opportunity to vote for. This Read more...
Sex scandals, sarcasm and simians? Wake me up when there is a real controversy
Posted 4:32pm Sunday 18th May 2014 by Daniel Lormans
This week let’s first go to the unnecessarily apologetic rugby league desk, which has been rocked with another shocking sex scandal that was neither shocking nor was it a scandal, and should have never been news in the first place. A Snapchat video featuring Warriors hard man Konrad Hurrell was Read more...
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