Archive

Opinion: The OUSA Referendum Has Been Very Poorly Advertised

Posted 10:32pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Hear ye, hear ye! OUSA referendum question submissions are open and will close on the 2nd of May. That’s really fucking soon – so whip out your thinking caps and email Vice-Pres Amy Martin (adminvp@ousa.org.nz) with all the questions you can think of!  Want a student bar? Shall Read more...

OSJP Rally For Palestine (Again)

Posted 10:30pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Otago Students for Justice in Palestine (OSJP) held another rally for Palestine on Otago University campus on April 16th*. Speeches were given by Neave, an organiser for OSJP, and Brandon Johnstone, a member of Staff for Palestine. The group proceeded to march around the Uni, chanting for their Read more...

Return Of The Weka

Posted 9:54pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff

Flightless, small, curious, and feisty. You may think we’re describing your most recent Tinder date, but Critic is actually describing an endemic bird: the weka. While weka are likely not fond of a candlelit steak dinner (they prefer the most critical piece of metal you bring along camping, Read more...

Opinion: The Mid-semester Conspiracy That The Clocktower Doesn’t Want You To Know About

Posted 9:50pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

It’s a tale as old as time (or 1869 at least): slumped in a chair in your first lecture post mid-semester break, you see your UC mate’s story. There he is, week two into his three-week break, cracking a beer or doing whatever tragic standard ‘fun’ is for an engineer. Our Read more...

A Marathon Effort for Mental Health

Posted 9:47pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Stella Weston

Content warning: Mention of suicide Scott Casey-Woolridge (“Scoot” as he’s known by friends) is a fifth-year Otago student who’s planning an utterly insane physical feat for Matariki weekend to raise money for the I Am Hope Foundation. I Am Hope focuses on mental health, Read more...

Voyagers Roll Red Carpet for Critic Alumni

Posted 9:43pm Sunday 27th April 2025 by Nina Brown

Two former Critic Te Ārohi editors have been named as finalists for the 2025 Voyager Media Awards: Joel MacManus (2018) and Fox Meyer (2022-2023). Both now based in the Beehive’s Press Gallery and working for The Spinoff and Newsroom respectively, the pair credit Critic Te Ārohi for Read more...

Yep, Someone Actually Read Them: OUSA Exec’s First Quarterly Reports

Posted 12:15am Monday 14th April 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

It’s that time of year when Critic gets its hands on the coveted quarterly reports of our OUSA overlords. Rumour has it these are just as sought-after as a copy of Sunrise on the Reaping. Our Exec members get paid by honorarium, meaning they have to provide proof they’ve done stuff to Read more...

Sustainability Office: Tetra Pak Recycling and Prizes for Sticking Around for the Mid-Sem

Posted 11:56pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs

The nature-loving students at the helm of the University of Otago’s Sustainability Office have announced a range of projects to keep campus clean and green. Critic Te Ārohi sat down with tētēkura (student leads) for a fantastic yap about waste management (subverting the rubbish Read more...

Stopping Starters

Posted 11:52pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Connor Moffat

‘Twas a sad day for the OGs of Dunedin on April 2nd when iconic student watering hole Starters Bar was demolished. An excavator took to the walls of the pre-loved pub, tearing it limb from limb. Many past Starters enthusiasts looked on, commiserating over shared memories from the former, and Read more...

Facebook Marketplace Reselling on the Rise

Posted 11:49pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Ben Hay-Smith

Among Dunedin's students, there is a common interest: the desire to acquire stuff, or to get rid of stuff. The primary tool used in this pursuit is the Wild West of TradeMe: Facebook Marketplace. With fewer barriers in making a listing, no fees, and an overall freer second-hand market, Read more...

ACT Drafts Bill to Axe Race-Based Uni Support Services

Posted 11:04pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Jodie Evans

An ACT Party member’s bill has been drafted to “ensure universities do not allocate resources, benefits, or opportunities based on race.” ACT claims the “race-neutral” bill advocates for “fair access to opportunities” through proposed amendments to the Read more...

Abuser’s Art Ousted from Campus

Posted 11:01pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Adam Stitely

Content Warning: Contains details of child sexual abuse.  The artwork of historic abuser John Middleditch was removed from Otago University campus on Friday, April 4th. The decision was made by Registrar Dr David Clark, advised by a six-person panel – including University staff, Read more...

Southern Events in for a Hyding

Posted 10:58pm Sunday 13th April 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Disclaimer: Staff writer Zoe Eckhoff is a band member of Ammonita, who were interviewed for this news article. OUSA’s annual Hyde Street Party on April 5th left its typical trail of Look Sharp costumes, crumpled cans, smiley face baggies, and students happily tired from six hours of boogie Read more...

ISSUES! 100 years of Critic Opens in Central Library

Posted 10:19pm Sunday 6th April 2025 by Stella Weston

Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet, but Critic Te Ārohi is 100 years old as of this April! To celebrate, the Otago University’s Special Collections and the Hocken Library have opened a new exhibit paying tribute to the centenary. ISSUES! 100 years of Critic is open now in the deBeer Read more...

Opinion: The Government Hates Critic

Posted 9:28pm Sunday 6th April 2025 by Nina Brown

The Crown has spat on Critic’s 100th birthday by rejecting our application for a letter from the King and refusing to wish the geriatric magazine a happy birthday. This time, crying on our birthday had a legit reason. The first blow came from the King himself. Well, by proxy through the Read more...

‘Anti-Social’ Zoo In The Spotlight

Posted 10:32pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Hanna Varrs

The Highlanders’ second home game of the season on March 14th against the Hurricanes was soured by reports of anti-social behaviour from the Zoo and a distastefully misogynistic ‘Zoo Uncaged’ social media post. A Highlanders’ spokesperson said it’s not on, Read more...

Chippy Talks Politics Over a Guiness

Posted 10:28pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Ella Grayson

Teasing the chance to have a yarn with big ticket item Chris Hipkins, the Labour Party and Young Labour Party hosted an open to all, town-hall-esque kōrero at The Bog. “Ngā Reo Rangatahi, The Voice of the Young People” was organised on Wednesday 19th of March, shortly after The Read more...

Academic Rep in Firm Opposition to 15-Point Paper Proposal

Posted 10:24pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Hanna Varrs

A working group is set to discuss the possibility of changing undergraduate papers from 18 to 15 points (as well as semester weeks). The group includes senior University staff, several academics from different divisions, and Academic Rep Stella Lynch. They’re set to meet on March 31st and Read more...

The Critic Centenary Book Is a Go

Posted 9:53pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Nina Brown

Disclaimer: Critic’s reporting on themselves again. Critic Te Ārohi’s very own Iris Hehir hung up her Features Editor and Law student boots last week, signing a contract to commit to a full-time position as the Editor-in-Chief of Critic’s centenary book. The elevator pitch: Read more...

StudyLink Lag Leaves Students In Limbo

Posted 9:11pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet

Students all around Aotearoa have been facing some extra financial hardship over the last few weeks, with many failing to receive their expected StudyLink payments or living costs payments. With day-to-day costs already a pressing concern for students, delays in financial assistance have left many Read more...

Critic’s ‘Cigarette Butt’ Cover’s LJ Hooker Feature

Posted 9:02pm Sunday 23rd March 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

A former Frederick Street flattie has let Critic Te Ārohi in on an inside secret. The scoop? LJ Hooker’s ad for their former flat is giving Critic free advertising. It began as the historic student tradition of plastering Critic covers on their flat wall. Jessie described the collaging Read more...

Daddy Grant Debuts Annual Arts Lecture

Posted 6:18pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Gryffin Blockley

The Uni debuted its (slightly tongue-twisting) inaugural annual School of Arts lecture last week, themed around ‘What did the arts student say to the future?’ Hosted by Otago’s most well-known BA graduate, the Vice Chancellor Honorable Grant Robertson himself, the lecture included Read more...

Market Day Moolah-Making

Posted 6:16pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Harry Almey

Radio One Market Days are soon to make a return*, the collection of random stalls you see crop up every so often by Union Lawn or the Link if it’s grotty weather. Calm yourself and slow that naughty racing heart of yours – the upcoming Market Day on Wednesday, March 26 Read more...

Fringe Festival’s 25th Opening Night: Cake, Comedy and Pass the Parcel

Posted 6:05pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Isabella Simoni

The time has finally come for Dunedin Fringe 2025, and what an exciting time it is! Last Wednesday marked the opening night when lovers of the arts, old and new, gathered to celebrate the festival’s 25th birthday – and it came with the to-be-expected bells and whistles that would make Read more...

Otago University Introduces New Disability Action Plan

Posted 6:02pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Stella Weston

As of 2023, 1 in 10 students at Otago University declared that they had a disability impacting their ability to study. This number has only increased over time, but Te Kokeka Whakamua – the University’s new disability action plan for 2024-2027 – aims to make things easier for these Read more...

UniPol’s New Rearrangement

Posted 5:37pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown

The latest era of UniPol’s constant mode of self-improvement copped the gym some flack on students’ favourite complaint hub: UoO Meaningful Confessions Facebook page. “Wtf have unipol done” read the title of a post on March 3rd. The anonymous poster reckoned UniPol has ruined Read more...

Otago Academic Experts Say ‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide’

Posted 5:32pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown

‘Gaza – Yes it is genocide, and yes, it really matters’. That was the title of a seminar held in Archway 1 at midday last Wednesday, hosted by Professors Robert Patman and Richard Jackson, and Dr Rula Talahma. Each spoke to their personal expertise and experiences to unpick the Read more...

Execrable: Fishy Constitutions and Fish of the Year

Posted 5:14pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Nina Brown

The Exec meeting last week didn’t bring the same level of drama as the week prior. They managed to stay out of confidential committee for the duration of the meeting, which unfortunately meant Critic Te Ārohi had to take notes the whole time – admittedly zoning out during the 20 Read more...

Breatha Exiled from Castle St Flat After Admitting, “I don’t fuck with DnB that much bro.”

Posted 4:44pm Sunday 16th March 2025 by Anderson Coomer

Alex, a second-year student, formerly known by his peers as ‘Fridge’ has been reduced to being known as ‘Champ’ in a turn of events that resulted in his tenancy being informally terminated at his Castle St flat. This follows a shocking admission, whereby Alex firmly stood Read more...

Barnyard Boogie in the Botans

Posted 11:43pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Stella Weston

The combination of flowing skirts and local band Frivolry made for an “afternoon of dancing, fun, and queer joy” to kick off Pride Month the first weekend of March. Organised by Dunedin Pride, the traditional Scottish and Irish folk band played a Ceilidh (a Celtic barn dance, pronounced Read more...

Te Rōpū Māori SGM: $100k from VC, Āpiha Hauora and Ahurea roles filled

Posted 11:32pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs

Te Rōpū Maori (TRM) have successfully filled their Āpiha Hauora (Wellbeing and Recreation Officer) and Āpiha Ahurea (Cultural Officer) at their most recent special general meeting (SGM). The VC has also committed to a $100k grant, allowing the Te Rito exec to be Read more...

Exec Submit Against Treaty Principles Bill

Posted 11:30pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Hanna Varrs

The OUSA Exec has submitted in opposition to the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. On Thursday, February 27th, President Liam and Politics Rep Jett presented an oral submission to the Justice Committee based on the written submission Liam hastily penned in January on behalf of the wider Read more...

Student Job Search: “Students in Otago Are More Likely To Secure Work”

Posted 11:27pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Zoe Eckhoff

There’s a small part in all of us that wishes we could afford a Netflix and a Disney+ subscription. But, as university students, managing a job and our studies (especially full-time) can be a difficult feat. With the total applications through Student Job Search (SJS) increasing by 23% over Read more...

Mr Prez ‘Bribes the Media’ with $1k Centenary Book Pledge

Posted 11:23pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown

Disclaimer: This article was written by said media. In a generous publicity stunt, OUSA President Liam White matched donations towards Critic Te Ārohi’s Centenary book up to $1k last Tuesday, March 4th (payday). The 100-year-old magazine has until March 16th to raise $70k to fund a Read more...

Pint-flation at U-Bar: An Economic Analysis

Posted 11:19pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by peter barclay

Students could once walk into U-Bar’s Wednesday Pint Night with a crisp $20 note, leaving four pints happier and with a shirt as soaked as your poor liver during Flo and O-Week. News of ‘pint-flation’ has spread across campus following the discovery that students’ most Read more...

Wanted: Serial Central Lib Red Wine Slugger

Posted 11:16pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Cailin Williams

Planning on a bender but don’t know where? Consider the Central Library. A mysterious male individual has been caught not once, not twice, but allegedly on weekly occasions of drinking six to seven bottles of wine in the Central Library over the summer break. However, the University is Read more...

Execrable: The First OUSA Exec Meeting (that Critic attended)

Posted 11:06pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown

The OUSA Exec had their meatiest meeting yet last Wednesday, March 5th – coincidentally the first Critic Te Ārohi was in attendance for. Critic parked up in the corner couches and locked into an hour and a half of aggressive note-taking (first-year-lecture style) and aggressive listening Read more...

BDS Complaint Prompts 30-Minute “Robust” Exec Discussion

Posted 10:52pm Sunday 9th March 2025 by Nina Brown

The OUSA Exec are in the hot seat over OUSA’s Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS) “posture” against businesses associated with the state of Israel – including Domino’s, who was excluded from Tent City. Two formal student complaints (and one informal complaint from Read more...

Toroa Has Outgrown Its Fresher Pants

Posted 8:08pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe

Toroa College is putting on its Big Boy Pants this year, transitioning from your typical first-year hall to a self-catered accommodation option for international and domestic postgrads and mature students. There’s only so long a hall can cope with watching 17-year-olds slam two for $40 Read more...

Campus’ Summer Glow-Up

Posted 8:05pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Jonathan McCabe

The University campus is like your one friend who actually hit the gym this summer and achieved their long-promised summer glow-up. Auahi Ora, Burns lecture theatres, Arana College, and OUSA’s Clubs and Socs are some of the spaces to receive a much-needed cash injection and a fresh lick of Read more...

The Ghosts of Cumby Past

Posted 8:01pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Harry Almey

It all started one fateful O-Week day. At 4:08 am, Cumberland resident Alex sent a message to the college-wide Snapchat which shook the college to its core: “There was a fucking ghost in my room.” Cue Critic. Alex lives on the Classical floor of Cumby. According to him, he woke up Read more...

A Baptism by Spaghetti

Posted 7:52pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Weston

Selwyn College’s latest event does nothing to ease their culty reputation, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. One of their most cherished traditions – the Leith Run – took place on the Saturday morning of O-week, bringing together nervous freshers and hungover exies in Read more...

OUSA Exec: Academic Accessibility

Posted 7:27pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Stella Lynch

Listen up, academic weapons. Whether you’re part of the furniture here at Otago or brand-spanking new to our beautiful university, you should care about the accessibility of your education. That’s right, we’re talking lecture recordings and paid placements. Let’s start Read more...

Knox Panda-Dove Wins ‘Inflatey 180: The Sequel’

Posted 7:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Nina Brown

The Zoo was heaving on Saturday, February 22nd, for the famous Inflatey180. The Inflatey180, which is to the Highlanders game what Kendrick Lamar was to the Superbowl, is the half-time entertainment that everyone really went to see. Each hall (except 192 Castle and Carrington) put forward a tribute Read more...

Bouncer by Night, Fake ID Dealer by Day

Posted 7:19pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Molly Smith-Soppet

With the new batch of underage freshers, comes a new batch of fake IDs… supplied by a Dunedin security guard who we’ll call McLovin. Multiple sources have told Critic Te Ārohi that McLovin has been charging first-years fiending for a night out upwards of $150 for IDs that had been Read more...

Amnesty Youth Otago Verbally Attacked for Pro-Palestinian Stance at Otago Clubs Day

Posted 6:59pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Ella Grayson

Content warning: Mentions of sexual and verbal assault  Members of Amnesty Youth Otago (AYO) were verbally attacked at OUSA’s Clubs Day on Thursday, February 20th. The group’s ‘Stop Israel’s Genocide’ banner attracted hateful and threatening comments by members Read more...

Vaping Students Used in Lieu of Smoke Machine for Ori’

Posted 4:24pm Sunday 2nd March 2025 by Tina Frowns

In lieu of an available smoke machine for Ori’ 2025, OUSA roped in a group of 100 or so students to continually blow vape clouds from either side of the Union Lawn stage. Volunteers (who the Critical Tribune has been assured were fully consenting) were recruited at OUSA’s annual Tent Read more...

Con-Tree-Versy on Union Lawn

Posted 6:38pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Jordan Irvine

The con-tree-versial decision to cut down a Japanese cherry blossom tree on Union Lawn to clear the way for Ori’ 2025 was made in December by OUSA management. But it wasn’t without a fight.  OUSA Secretary Donna Jones ran a tree-saving quest in the lead up to its ultimate demise Read more...

Freshers Say Sport was the Real Winner On the Day

Posted 6:20pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Adam Stitely

The Inter-College Sports Competition kicked off last Tuesday, February 18th, with  thousands of freshers flocking to Logan Park in what might be the University’s only wholesome O-Week event.  With word that Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson (more affectionately known as Daddy Grant) Read more...

Cozzie Livs on the Brain, Says Exec Poll

Posted 6:17pm Sunday 23rd February 2025 by Nina Brown

The cost of living crisis is at the forefront of the student brain if the OUSA Exec’s Tent City poll is anything to go by. The informal poll asked students what issues were highest on their priority list, with options including housing, a student bar, fresher life, drinking culture, lecture Read more...