Kia ora students,
I hope everyone has recovered from the recent lashing of rain and enjoyed O-week. It’s always chaotic, exciting, and at times overwhelming, but it’s also one of the things that makes being an Otago student so special.
You’re part of an incredibly unique student community here in Dunedin. If you’ve been on social media or read the news in the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen a fair bit of student bashing. Headlines calling Otago students ‘unruly’ or ‘feral’, often based on the actions of a select few, and without any real context. I’ve been actively defending our community, because those narratives do not reflect who we really are.
Otago is made up of over 20,000 students from all different backgrounds and experiences. Reducing an entire student population to a lazy stereotype isn’t accurate. And besides that, students are allowed to have fun. Whether your version of fun is scrolling reels, playing games with flat mates, hitting the gym, or going out for a drink, you have every right to enjoy yourselves safely and responsibly.
So remember that whatever dramatic link your parents have sent you on Facebook doesn’t truly reflect the Otago experience. Trust what you see in your own life, and you’ll likely find that we are a vibrant, supportive, and yes, occasionally chaotic community.
As Semester 1 kicks off, look after yourselves, look after your mates, and remember that being an Otago student is more than just going to classes. It’s about finding your place and your people, and a sense of belonging.
Ngā mihi,
Daniel Leamy
President