Dear Ethel,
Every time we walk up Castle Street to go to New World, we get harassed. We’ve started to detour and walk via Cumberland Street but I really don’t see why we have to do that. My friend was driving down Castle Street last week and had a bottle thrown at her car. We’re over it. There’s a difference between having a good time and being total dicks.
-Over It
Dear Over It,
Yeah, we hear you. There have been a number of drop-ins at Ethel B from students who share similar concerns. I wish we could wave a magic wand and make people chill the f*** out! You should not have to detour in order to feel safe walking to the supermarket. We’re not talking harmless fun here, we’re talking harassment and abuse, both of which can be dealt with as offences through the justice system. Clearly, such behaviour breaches the Code of Conduct that all students are bound by while studying at the University of Otago.
So, what are your options? Keeping yourselves safe is the first priority. Walk wherever you feel safest. Why shouldn’t we be able to walk where we like though? Is there some way you can reclaim the route you would usually take? Maybe get a group together, if that’s what it takes. Think about reporting incidents of abuse and/or bottle throwing. You can even do so anonymously if need be. These things need to be stopped as they are happening, not later when accusations can easily be denied or blamed on ‘visitors’.
Last week, a student told us about seeing a gaggle of pre-schoolers with their teacher precariously picking their way through the glass on Castle Street. Last year, I spoke with a second year student who nearly died from a serious infection after a cut from broken glass on the same street. What will it take for people to, as you so eloquently put it, stop being total dicks?
OUSA takes these issues seriously and Laura Harris, this year’s President, is very keen to talk to students about their experiences and to promote respectful behaviour. We have a chance to work together to quash intimidation and reclaim all of campus, to let that minority of trouble-makers know that their behaviour is crap and we will not be forced to restrict our freedom because of it. We’d love to hear from you if you have comments or ideas about this. Drop into 5 Ethel B and have a chat!
-Ethel