Abbey College Residents Told to Leave in November

Posted 10:14pm Thursday 3rd September 2020

Abbey College residents are being “kicked out” over summer as the University considers a proposal to make the building an undergraduate residential college. The news was “a shock” to residents, said Renata*, a student who lives in Abbey College. “This is not how you Read more...

Criminal Charges, Expulsion “Threatened” if Agnew Residents Host Flat Party

Posted 10:16pm Thursday 13th August 2020

The Campus Cop told a flat on Agnew Street that they could face criminal charges and be expelled from the University if they hosted a party in their flat. The Campus Constable, John Woodhouse, emailed one of the flatmates on 7 August stating that “the holders of such an event may be liable Read more...

“Lack of Empathy”: Lecturer’s Quora Posts Made Students Uncomfortable

Posted 8:38pm Thursday 13th August 2020

Content warning: suicide, shootings. Luke Schneider, a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Canterbury, implied that beneficiaries should commit suicide, wrote about why he would “shoot to kill” in a riot to protect private property, and suggested that a virus Read more...

Landlord “Nit-Picking” to Keep Bonds from Tenants

Posted 10:36pm Thursday 6th August 2020

A lost kitchen sink plug, dirty chairs, blown light bulbs, and a missing oven knob were among the reasons a Dunedin landlord claimed her tenants should not get their bond back.  Since August 2016, Karen Brown has appeared in 31 orders from the Tenancy Tribunal and one District Court case Read more...

OUSA Reviewing Clubs for “Inappropriate Behaviour”

Posted 10:18pm Thursday 6th August 2020

OUSA has begun a review aiming to understand and deal with inappropriate behaviour within affiliated clubs. OUSA’s CEO, Debbie Downs, listed several aims for the review. “To understand the extent of inappropriate behaviour within OUSA-affiliated Clubs and Societies,” is the Read more...

OUSA Did “Nothing” About Alleged Sexual Assault in 2009

Posted 1:43pm Sunday 2nd August 2020

Content warning: sexual violence, murder.  The alleged perpetrator of a sexual assault in 2009 continued to work at OUSA for years after the complaint was brought to them. OUSA still does not have a sexual misconduct policy, despite telling the complainant that they were developing a similar Read more...

“Sophia Charter” Signed to Make Student Parties Less Risky

Posted 10:16pm Thursday 30th July 2020

The University of Otago and Sophia Crestani’s parents hope to see permanent changes in the student community as a result of The Sophia Charter. The Sophia Charter is named after Sophia Crestani, an Otago student who died during a flat party in October last year. The Charter aims to make Read more...

Below Average Pay for Summer Studentships

Posted 2:09pm Sunday 26th July 2020

Students working summer studentships at the University of Otago felt that they had to choose between fair pay and academic experience. Some students believe that the academic experience earned was worth it. Some students received pay as low as $10 per hour worked in the summer of 2018 and Read more...

Student Safety Policy to be Released in Light of Sophia Crestani’s Death

Posted 2:07pm Sunday 26th July 2020

“The Sophia Charter”, a policy named after Sophia Crestani and developed by the University, will be signed into effect this Wednesday.  The Charter is named after Sophia Crestani, the Otago student who died at a flat party in October of last year. “Full details will be Read more...

ClinicalKey Licence Cut By Uni

Posted 1:34pm Sunday 26th July 2020

The University has decided to cut their subscription to ClinicalKey after the research database reportedly increased their license fee by “well beyond” 6%. ClinicalKey is a research database for Health Science and Science students. According to the library website, it provides Read more...