Students Ditch First Past the Post for OUSA Elections

Posted 5:21pm Monday 20th November 2017

From 2018 onwards, OUSA elections will be held using Preferential Voting, replacing the old system of First Past The Post. The change comes after students voted overwhelmingly for a constitutional change in the October 2017 OUSA referendum.   Of the 1350 students who took part in the Read more...

5 Star Hotel Declined but Developer Not Giving Up

Posted 11:07am Sunday 8th October 2017

A controversial proposal by Tekapo businessman Anthony Tosswill to build a new five star hotel in the Centre City has been rejected by a panel of independent commissioners, but the developer says he isn’t giving up, and hopes to put forward a revised plan soon. The original proposal was for Read more...

OUSA Give Away Van For One Year After Lengthy Competition

Posted 10:58am Sunday 8th October 2017

Otago Student Will Bowsey is the proud new owner of a van for the next year, after winning ‘The Great Silver Bullet Giveaway’ last Tuesday. He will receive a free 12 month lease on the van, fully covered by OUSA insurance. The OUSA branding will be removed. Contestants had to keep at Read more...

The Hell Hole | The Nightmare

Posted 12:47pm Saturday 30th September 2017

I joined the Young Nats to stop this nightmare. I waved placards at cars, I knocked on doors, I spammed my friends on Facebook until they all blocked me. It wasn’t enough. The day after the election, Dear Leader Jacinda took her oath of office. The red curtain fell. Taxes were raised to Read more...

Opinion: OUSA Needs the Alternative Vote

Posted 9:50am Saturday 30th September 2017

The OUSA Referendum, held between 9 and 11 October, will include a question about whether we should change the way we vote for future OUSA elections; giving students the chance to keep the current voting system, First Past the Post (FPP), or the Alternative Vote (STV), also known as Preferential Read more...

Labour Landslide at University of Otago Polling Booths

Posted 9:29am Saturday 30th September 2017

Preliminary election results have shown that a resurgent Labour Party dominated the vote at polling stations within the University of Otago. A total of 5,728 votes were cast at the three polling stations on campus, which included Unipol, the Link, and Otago Polytech. Labour romped home with 46.9 Read more...

The History of Initiations at Otago University

Posted 12:33pm Sunday 24th September 2017

With the student ghetto, couch burning, broken bottles and the Hyde St party, it’s easy to villianise modern student behaviour. However, in contrast with their parents, grandparents, and greatgrandparents, students these days are angels. Joel Macmanus reports on the dangerous and disgusting Read more...

Pharmacy Students Launch Awareness Campaign

Posted 10:59am Sunday 24th September 2017

University of Otago Pharmacy students want people to know that pharmacists are more than just pill-counters at the corner store. New Zealand Association of Pharmacy Students Otago (NZAPS-O) President Alice Weil says that their profession is often misunderstood and underestimated. “NZAPS-O has Read more...

Cutlers Appear to Have Been Tricking Tenants with Fixed-Term Contracts for Boarding Houses

Posted 10:45am Sunday 24th September 2017

Cutlers Ltd, one of the largest property management firms in North Dunedin, appear to have, in at least one case, required tenants to sign fixed-term contracts, when the law allows tenants to terminate their tenancies after giving only 48 hours’ notice. Tenants at 63/A Queen Street signed Read more...

20 Hour Positions - ‘Be Bold’ Ticket Successful in Vice President and Finance Positions, Loses Welfare and Education

Posted 10:59am Sunday 17th September 2017

Voters indicated a mood for change in the OUSA Vice-Presidential race last week, ousting current Education Officer Bryn Jenkins. Cam Meads, who headed the ‘Be Bold’ ticket, defeated Jenkins of the ‘Unity’ ticket by a margin of 38 percent to 31 percent. Guy McCallum, who Read more...