David Clark
Some see scarfie culture as something that is quite clear cut. Alcohol, adventure, and living in cold flats are characteristics that spring to mind for a lot of people. But these three ingredients exist at Scott Base and in countless other countries around the world. For me, scarfie culture embraces so much more. Dunedin students have been called scarfies for longer than I remember. The face of that culture has changed throughout time.
It almost goes without saying that the experience of living in Dunedin is what scarfies have in common. That iconic kiwi experience is with several thousand others who find themselves in the same boat: fresh out of school, away from home and living in a densely populated student area. This comes with a particular set of common obstacles—making friends, flatting with others for the first time, joining clubs, and all the while knuckling down and doing well with studies. It’s the “work hard, play hard” mentality of Otago students that defines the scarfie culture.
And being a student here isn’t always easy. It requires people to forge strong and enduring relationships with others. Winter is cold, ‘schoolwork’ is often stressful, and the scarfie community helps all students get through and enjoy their studies.
The scarfie culture is least impressive when it tries too hard. This comes in the form of striving to repeat and relive the experience of an imagined golden era that never was. The culture is what students at the time make of it, and at the moment it’s as good a time as ever to be a scarfie. Otago graduates are sought by New Zealand employers, academics and business partners. They achieve excellence, have fun, and they’re willing to try new things.
Scarfie culture is sometimes maligned, and can become a negative thing when it becomes a caricature of itself. Fortunately, it has developed strategies to laugh at itself in the cause of reinvention. Think of the capping show, a tradition passed from one bunch of scarfies to the next. The characters that work best in that show are contemporary scarfie stereotypes. Students find themselves laughing at the strengths and weaknesses of their own cohort in its various colourful incarnations. The next lot will be different.
It’s difficult to nail down exactly what scarfie culture is. But to me it involves a spirit of adventure, never giving up, and not accepting the phrase: it can’t be done.
Michael Woodhouse
We celebrate it, we trade on both the positive and less savoury aspects of it, we even make movies about it (Robert Sarkies’ low budget comedy/thriller Scarfies, compulsory viewing for every undergrad!). But what actually is scarfie culture?
I reckon there are three distinct aspects to Otago Uni’s scarfie culture. First there is the initiation rituals that newbies experience when they first arrive at Otago. This takes the form of the various Orientation events and gigs. Plus, if you are also enrolled at a University hostel, the various “fresher” rituals that leave first years drunk, wet, egged or otherwise ritually embarrassed. Mostly harmless stuff but with the occasional negative aspect.
The second aspect is the business as usual stuff that is the experience of the Otago student. This includes some of the ‘brand Otago’ experiences that includes grabbing the overalls and heading to the Zoo to cheer the Highlanders, life in the freezing North Dunedin flat eating two minute noodles and New World sausages, and the endless hours studying (for most of us cramming at the end of semester) in one of the many nooks and crannies around the campus before getting whatever academic result our efforts warrant.
The third aspect of scarfie culture is one most readers won’t yet have experienced. It is the amazing experience of being the member of the club as an Otago alumnus. I’m constantly amazed at the reach and reputation of Otago University. Graduands have gone on to do amazing things. Mention internationally that you are an Otago graduate almost always brings recognition, admiration and quite often a door or two opening professionally.
As we reflect on scarfie culture it is important not to over-emphasise the negative aspects of it, but to also recognise the brilliant culture we have. As with all things in life it is about keeping things in balance. On balance I reckon our culture is something to be really proud of.