While freshers are still hiding behind their maps, the scarfie lifestyle is yet again being frowned upon by the DCC. This problem isn’t new – they have wanted to impose a liquor ban in North D since 2006. They want to drop the last drip of our SoGos; probably cause they haven’t been invited to a party for 100 years. Both the Uni and our beloved DCC, pushed on by the ODT’s riveting coverage, want to stop our parties. They have already banned the Toga Parade and the Undie 500, and the armed police presence at keg parties increases by the year. If they really wanted to come to our parties, they could just ask.
It’s part of a two-way policy: The University wants more committed students, with better grades, to attract more funding; the Council wants to give the city a better image to attract tourism. Neither of them are really interested in our well-being – the world has been written out in economic formulae, often bypassing human interest or value. The University doesn’t understand that a grade is only half the game, and while the DCC portrays us as irresponsible criminal youth, this town’s main industry revolves around us. And student crime is decreasing, and we clean up our own mess.
Though New Zealand does have a bit of a binge drinking problem, this isn’t the real issue. Students have and probably will always drink – it’s an easy way to socialize. The University and Council want us to behave, to give them a better image. Meanwhile our workloads increase, our loans rack up and our houses are only going to get colder.
As long as the University is part of the degree industry, we can’t discover ourselves. We are barcodes with a potential output. This view of the world is seriously wrong. How are we meant to find “our place in the world” when we are viewed as a commodity?
A liquor ban will not stop people from drinking, just like restrictions of O-Week sponsors won’t stop great bands from coming. If anyone is serious about cleaning up North Dunedin, and making it a pleasant, and more importantly warm, place to live, they should ask for student input, or do something about student housing. They could pay us to paint them!
In protest against the DCC’s short-sightedness, crack open a beer. And if the ban comes through, open two.
Red and Starry Eyed
