Columns

OK, so we’ve had our first week of lectures. We hope they went well for you; however, if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact us at teroopu.maori@otago.ac.nz or Te Huka M?tauraka.

Te M?tauraka, The M?ori Centre (MC), provides excellent services. One of these is free tutorials, which, I might add, have assisted and contributed to the success of many Health Science students. They also have Te K?rikarika a Tane, mentoring programme, which is extremely fun and pairs you up with an older student who has done the course you’re doing and so is extra helpful with past lecture notes, books, assignments, and exam hints. Another service they offer is counselling that deals with issues such as homesickness, illness, and – heaven forbid – the loss of a loved one, including animals. So, come and make use of us and the friendly staff at the MC.
 
Right. Now that the excitement of O-Week has subsided, let’s break down some of the behavioural aspects associated with it and being a ‘fresher’.
 
Here’s the question: what’s the big deal with tormenting first-year students? Have you forgotten that you were once a fresher, too? I know that I was, and I’ve been here many years (too many) to know this behaviour of belittling and pelting first year students with eggs, water balloons, and any other disgusting species lying around the flat is not tradition. So, why all of a sudden is it becoming a ritual? All of you know the feeling of being a first-year, so why make it harder for the new generation to make the transition from home, their friends, and family to Dunedin and the most prestigious university in New Zealand? Take a look at yourselves, ‘mature’ students. Look into the mirror. If you’re not a part of the solution, you’re part of the pain. Take off your judgement wig and let these students enjoy their time as first-years.
 
On that note I’d like to take the opportunity to commend Harriet and her team at OUSA on the awesome job they’ve done ensuring the safety of students attending the numerous gigs. Great job, guys! In particular I’d like to thank Ari, our M?ori Rep in OUSA, who kept us informed about the safety precautions available to students. Nau mai ki te ao M?ori i roto i to t?tou Whare W?nanga e hoa!