Columns

oh hi there
I’m Julia, the editor of Critic for 2011. Welcome to issue one, the “summer” issue.
Critic is the student magazine of Otago University, and was established way back in 1925 as a way to keep the uni in check. Since then, Critic has widened its scope, and now attempts to prevent the uni, OUSA, ODT and other pockets of corruption from pulling the wool over students’ eyes. When that gets too hard, Critic falls back on the lowest forms of wit: sarcasm and liberal use of “cunt” and “fuck”.
This issue fulfils its expletive quota, but also makes some pretty good reading (or at least, we like to think it does). Charlotte Greenfield interviews notoriously intelligent Jim Flynn about his latest book and the importance of literature (pg 28).  Phoebe Harrop updates you on the most important (read: most interesting) news stories that happened over summer (pg 26), and Josh Hercus offers some helpful advice to wide-eyed freshers trying to find their footing in scarfie-land (pg 20).
Keep reading, and you’ll find an all new line-up of columnists (pg 33 onwards), discussing topics that are almost exclusively sex, drugs and politics. Oops.
In our review section, Sam Valentine reviews the Melvins (pg 44), Niki Lomax makes brownies (pg 54), Jen Aitken goes to The Wonder of Sex (page 52), and Alec Dawson offers his take on the much discussed Black Swan (pg 47). A super cool newcomer to the review section is our fashion page (pg 53) edited by the lovely Mahoney Turnbull, featuring stylish students and trends to watch (or avoid as the case may be).
It seems impossible to finish without noting the tragic earthquake that occurred in Christchurch last week. As easy as it was to dismiss Key’s lisping claim that the event was likely to be New Zealand’s “darkest day”, perhaps he was right after all (more on Key on page 22). From our safe distance 5 hours away, it seems impossible that friends and family are really struggling for water and are still without electricity. Without getting all sentimental on yo’ ass, the outpouring of support has been really amazing, and on page 12, we cover the ways you too can help the victims of the earthquake.
Despite the positive support, the media coverage often verged on what one person aptly termed “disaster porn”. Cameras followed traumatised and bloody survivors as they sought a moment of solitude. Interviews were conducted with people so shaken they were barely aware of where they were, let alone what they were saying. Microphones were thrust into the faces of officials, demanding a body count. And then, once the media’s lust for blood was satisfied, suddenly all anyone wanted to know was whether the earthquake would affect the Rugby World Cup. That FUCKING world cup.
Anyway, we hope you all enjoy this issue. Comments, criticism, complements- send them our 
Have a great first week of semester,
Julia