Professor Harlene Hayne took over the Vice-Chancellor position last Monday, after a two week period during which the University had no official Vice-Chancellor.
The first female Vice Chancellor in the University’s 142-year history, Hayne replaces Sir Professor David Skegg, who spent seven years in the role.
Speaking to the Otago Bulletin (a fortnightly newsletter for University staff and postgraduate students), Hayne noted that she views her new position as “a big present” which, at the time of speaking, she had “not yet had the chance to unwrap”.
However, there has been some indication that Hayne intends to further crack down on Otago’s current party image. Sources close to Hayne have stated that she is dissatisfied with the current O-Week model, and that she intends to create an academic O-Week instead.
Critic hopes to unveil the woman behind the mystery in an exclusive interview in our next issue.
Harlene’s first day at school
