Editorial: Two problems with big-time philanthropy.

Posted 8:46pm Sunday 3rd September 2023

It’s politics week, so I want to talk about donations. Specifically “big-time philanthropy”, which is not when Auntie Lorraine makes out a $2,500 cheque to the children’s hospital. I mean more like when Peter Thiel donated $1 million to the Christchurch earthquake recovery Read more...

This Barbie is getting Deported!

Posted 11:05pm Sunday 20th August 2023

I counted 323 individual Barbie dolls, including multiples in the same box and excluding all Kens because, well, they're just Kens. Of these 323, 209 were either unemployed or just on vacation, and were therefore refused residency by Immigration New Zealand. That includes all of the myriad Beach Read more...

Editorial: Otago is About to Solve the Climate Crisis

Posted 11:03pm Sunday 20th August 2023

Great news! We’re set to lose about $900,000/year in the Geology Department, crippling our ability to research natural hazards and climate change. But what we aren’t realising is that this is actually a genius move from the top levels of government to solve the climate crisis Read more...

Seagull Gang Ram-Raids Night ‘n Day

Posted 10:53pm Sunday 20th August 2023

Thursday evening, August 10th. A gang of ten young ruffians swarmed into the Octagon Night ‘n Day, harassing staff and customers while refusing to leave.    The offenders – all in matching outfits – refused to communicate in english. Maybe because they were Read more...

EDITORIAL: Rock Bottom

Posted 3:56pm Sunday 13th August 2023

Hey, you, you’ve got thirty seconds. Sign this petition. It’s not pointless, we did this sort of thing when marine science was under the axe, and it worked. Do it, because it’s only open until Wednesday. Do it, because if Otago is willing to cannibalise its own founding discipline, Read more...

Editorial: Rock Bottom - Save our Geology Department!

Posted 12:33pm Friday 11th August 2023

Hey, you, you’ve got thirty seconds. Sign this petition. It’s not pointless, we did this sort of thing when marine science was under the axe, and it worked. Do it, because it’s only open until Wednesday. Do it, because if Otago is willing to cannibalise its own founding discipline, Read more...

Editorial: Finance is just Astrology for Capitalists

Posted 2:14pm Monday 7th August 2023

Last time we talked about bad timing: why announcing a million-dollar rebrand during massive staff cuts is a bad idea, even if the rebrand itself is a good call. This time we’re gonna be talking about maths.   Unlike the decision to rebrand, the decision to set a budget is rooted Read more...

Fashion Forecast: Historical Trends To Bring Back

Posted 1:55pm Monday 7th August 2023

Fashion has always been cyclical. Typically, the overarching trends of each decade are a direct contrast to that decade or decades prior. Think of the boxy, baggy, top-heavy silhouettes of the ‘80s sandwiched between the more fitted and A-line shapes of the ‘70s and ‘90s. In Read more...

Otago Targets Geology Department with 30% Staff Cuts

Posted 2:03pm Monday 31st July 2023

Otago University was founded on geology and medicine, and has recently targeted both with considerable budget cuts.   According to documents seen by Critic Te Ārohi, the Geology Department is facing a proposed reduction of about a third of their staff, despite boasting the title of Read more...

Editorial: Begin the Warpath

Posted 1:48pm Monday 31st July 2023

I often write these columns with second-years in mind, because that’s usually who reads this magazine. And so I tend to write silly little editorials with fun facts and stories in them because life is already pretty stressful and depressing and the last thing a second-year wants is another Read more...