In the first iteration of a students versus lecturers POLSA debate, last Monday August 12th a team of “white male law students” (their words) pipped their professors at the post. A keen crowd of peers gathered in the Richardson Building Moot Court to witness the battle over whether or not the Government should remove the tax on alcohol in Dunedin “for the purpose of reviving student culture” (as argued for by the lecturers) or if the status quo should remain (as argued for by the students).
The debate was judged by Politics Professor Janine Hayward (whose list of published books is as long as your arm), POLSA Vice President Seluvaia Ratoul, and the Debating Society’s Liam Gould. On the pro-tax removal team was David Jenkins, Leon Goldsmith and Rachel Billington – all esteemed Politics Department lecturers. Anti-taxxers included students Flynn Struckmann, David Koshy and Jack Evans.
The lecturer’s team had Jenkins argue that “booze [was] important in any cultural renaissance.” He put forward the idea that students should be required to submit a haiku to acquire alcohol, then proposing the appointment of a regional poet to vet this process. Their third speaker, Billington, provided the “humble” perspective of the landlord, noting that a “tipsy tenant is a happy tenant [...] or at least a less vocal one […] Who can focus on the quality of their digs when instead you’re focused on a good night out?” Critic Te Ārohi hopes the sarcasm comes through in print.
Arguing against the removal of tax on alcohol, the student team referred to students as “enlightened, studious and more than Castle Street […] We’re not piss-sinking idiots anymore.” Instead, the student team proposed that students had moved away from drinking to other activities – leaving it up to the audience’s imaginations what these might be. We’re guessing crack.
With the express permission of the Proctor, the debate was lubricated with alcohol – although we’re pretty sure none of the lecturers indulged. Both the student team and spectators could be spotted proudly guzzling back their fave drinks (mostly Speight’s). The permission form to allow Speight’s in the building was apparently easy enough, according to POLSA Academic Rep Monica Holopainen: “You fill it out and get the Head of Department to sign.”
But given the debate took place on a Monday (the only day that fit with lecturers’ busy schedules), Monica didn’t want to advertise it as a piss-up. “If [POLSA] do it next year on a Wednesday or Friday [they can make that part] bigger,” Monica said.
When asked as to how she felt the event went, Monica said that she felt the event went “really well […] I always get nervous [about these events], but nobody got cancelled. I also really love organising these sorts of things. There was a really good turn out.” The event continues a proud POLSA tradition of socialising with their lecturers. Seriously guys, get some real mates.