Archive

University to Cut Art History Programme

Posted 11:11pm Thursday 30th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Students are angry at what they see as the University prioritising profits after the University announced that it is looking to cut the Art History and Visual Culture programme over a continuing decline in the number of students taking the subject.   There has been a 75% decline in Read more...

How to Connect with the Youths, by Otago University

Posted 8:32pm Thursday 30th August 2018 by Joel MacManus

EDITORIAL:  Kids these days are complicated. What with all their tech gadgets and their Fork Knife game and their liberal views, it can be hard to really connect with them. They spend all their time surfing the interwebs, so the number one way to get ‘In Yo Face’ is through their Read more...

Critic and Radio One to Host OUSA Election Debate at UBar

Posted 10:08pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

In a move to shock the ages the OUSA Exec have allowed Critic and Radio One to moderate the OUSA elections forums, after last year’s forums, described by Critic Editor Joel MacManus as a “shitshow,” were moderated by then-OUSA President Hugh Baird. Last year’s forums Read more...

Varsity Comes Out Top of Rugby Premiership

Posted 10:07pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Joel MacManus

The Otago University Rugby Football Club (OURFC) has continued its run as the winningest rugby club in New Zealand, picking up three senior grade championships. The Women’s Senior A team had the strongest season of any senior team in any grade, going undefeated in 10 games, with an average Read more...

Student Start-Up “Ento” Wants to Make Eating Bugs Mainstream

Posted 10:06pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Sinead Gill

While your flatmates are arguing about dishes and being too loud past 10pm, there is a flat full of students who are working to make the world a more sustainable place. They have started a company called Ento (the Latin word for insect), and they want to make insect consumption mainstream in New Read more...

OUSA Postgrad Officer Resigns Due to “Workload”

Posted 9:23pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Kirio Birks, OUSA Postgraduate Officer, has resigned from his position, citing his other commitments. In his resignation letter, Kirio said, "After reflection on the academic workload in front of me as a student, and the new opportunities I have been presented with, I must make a Read more...

It’s Red Card Season, Comrades!

Posted 8:53pm Sunday 19th August 2018 by Joel MacManus

Welcome to another loosely themed issue of Critic. This week we’re telling you what to think by reviewing a bunch of stuff like carpet, Chinese food, and Vodka Cruisers so that you know what the best stuff is and you don’t have to have any original thoughts or opinions. While Read more...

The Revue Review

Posted 5:35pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Every year a bunch of law students and a bunch of med students get together and try to be funny. Critic reviews how successful they were.   Med Revue Med Revue, despite being punishingly long at well over three hours and punishingly full of puns, wasn’t as shit as I was Read more...

Students Concerned About Enrolment Numbers Increase

Posted 5:18pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Thea Bailie-Bellew

Some students are worried about space in courses and libraries as the University of Otago announced that its enrolment figures for 2018 show an increase of about 380 equivalent full-time students (EFTS) on 2017. Most these extra students are enrolled in first-year undergraduate programmes and are Read more...

Opinion: The OUSA Exec Needs a Massive Overhaul

Posted 5:01pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Sam McChesney

Back in the day, the OUSA executive had almost 20 members. They fought a lot and spent lots of money. They were a bit like a pretentious, high-rolling kindergarten. They had positions for everything. They even had two “general reps,” who did…well, nobody really knew what they did. Read more...

Fire Engines Called to Steamy Scenes at Geology Camp

Posted 4:59pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Esme Hall

Two fire engines were called to an Otago Uni Geology camp in Omaui after shower steam set off the fire alarm. A group of students studying Igneous Petrology and Volcanology were staying at the Omaui YMCA lodge for an exciting weekend of looking at rocks around Bluff. The Read more...

Is Agnew The New Hyde? Not Yet, But It Was Still Pretty Sweet

Posted 4:57pm Thursday 16th August 2018 by Sophia Carter Peters

The Agnew Street party has left its mark on North Dunedin. The self-proclaimed “Hyde’s ugly stepsister,” Angew is the younger generation’s un-ticketed paradise of day-drinking, bass thumping, and regrettable hookups. First and second years travelled across campus, and up a Read more...

Education Minister “Cannot Make a Commitment” to VSM Repeal

Posted 11:38pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Minister for Educations Chris Hipkins has rejected a request to repeal from the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) to repeal Voluntary Student Membership, saying he “cannot make a commitment” at this stage. VSM, which was introduced by ACT back when it was Read more...

Police Fail to Catch 4chan Shitposter

Posted 11:37pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

The extensive police investigation into the Otago University anonymous shooting threat made in 2015 has reached a dead end, according to a police report released to Stuff and later Critic under the Official information Act.  In October 2015 an anonymous person posted on 4chan, "If Read more...

Third Student Flat Wins Tenancy Payout Against Landlord Mike Harbott

Posted 11:35pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Charlie O’Mannin

Landlord Mike Harbott, who owns several student flats in the North Dunedin area, has been ordered to pay $4,020 in exemplary damages to the residents of 9 Duke Street for failing to provide smoke alarms, lodge the bond, or provide and maintain the flat in a reasonable state of repair.  This Read more...

Critic Takes Over AskOtago And Makes It Way More Useful

Posted 11:27pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Joel MacManus

At the start of the semester, the mysterious wall of mystery that mystified the masses on the ground floor of Central Library came down, and the TRUTH was revealed to all. Unfortunately, that TRUTH was really just the Uni coming up with an excuse to lay off a bunch of staff and build some yellow Read more...

OUSA Joins Wā Collective To Provide Discounted Menstrual Cups

Posted 8:23pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Esme Hall

OUSA has partnered with the Wā Collective to offer affordable menstrual cups to Otago students. The Wā Collective is a kiwi social enterprise that fights period poverty by providing $15 medical grade menstrual cups to students across the country. Menstrual cups are reusable and are worn Read more...

No Change to Number of Selwyn College Returners After Students Fight Back

Posted 8:22pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Esme Hall

After pressure from students, the Selwyn College Board of Governors has shut down a proposal to reduce the intake of returning second year students at the college for 2019 from over fifty to twenty-five.  The Selwyn College Students’ Association (SCSA) presented their opposition at a Read more...

OPINION: The Mess of Medicinal Marijuana Politics

Posted 8:21pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Esme Hall

New Zealand now has cross-party support on medicinal marijuana. And 78% of New Zealanders are in favour of legalising medicinal marijuana for pain relief, according to a Drug Foundation research poll. But, no political party is willing to put their name to another party’s Bill on the issue. Read more...

OUSA Grants Funding Runs Out

Posted 8:19pm Thursday 9th August 2018 by Sinead Gill

As of last week, the OUSA grant budget has run out of money early, with just over $3400 left out of an initial pool of $80,000, according to OUSA Recreation Officer Josh Smythe.  OUSA grants are typically available throughout the year for groups or individuals who need money. This can range Read more...