News

Couches were set on fire and five students were arrested last night on Castle St for disorderly behaviour, following a large keg party on the street.


 
Two female students, aged 19 and 20, were among those arrested. One climbed onto a fire engine.
 
The fire service attended three fires in the early evening and Campus Watch and the police dealt with another three.
 
"Usually students head to the Gardies sports tavern after the annual keg party, but the University recently bought the cash-strapped pub and closed it down only a couple of months ago to try and curb Otago's binge drinking reputation. So, tonight students took their partying to the street," Nightline reported last night. "However, police say that keeping Gardies open wouldn't have made a difference."
 
The party was an unofficial event during ReOrientation Week, organised by students on Facebook. The event had well over 2,000 "confirmed guests." Reports estimate that up to 500 students were on the street at the party's peak around 6pm at the peak.
 
Most revellers at the event appeared to be enjoying the variety of musical acts on offer and police were taking a hands off approach.
 
Many students were leaving just before 8.30pm telling Critic they were off to catch the season premiere of Outrageous Fortune.
 
The party came a day after Critic declared the death of Scarfiedom at the University of Otago. There is speculation that the couch burnings were in retaliation to this, but Critic has not been able to independently verify this.
 
There will be coverage of this story and other ReOrientation Week news in next week's issue.