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Re-Orientation kicked off on Wednesday and ended on Saturday, with a stellar line-up running throughout the week. Ladyhawke, Kora, and the comedy night with Paul Ego and Chopper Reed were predicted to be the big hits, while OUSA’s Clubs Day, Market Day and International Food Festival provided students with a busy schedule for the first few days.

Wednesday was Clubs Day at the OUSA Clubs and Societies Centre. Only the most eager clubs set up before lunchtime, meaning that at 11am the Centre was basically a political thoroughfare. Young Labour, Free Tibet, the International Socialists, and the Greens on Campus were set up in prime glaring position opposite the Young Nats, who cunningly hid Young Labour’s sign from view, forcing their red rivals to relocate upstairs. The Centre filled up in the afternoon, with well-known clubs like UniQ, Student Life and the Debating Society present along with sports clubs such as Ultimate Frisbee.

Ladyhawke played on Wednesday evening, along with She’s So Rad and Two Cartoons. The small crowd of around 250 people was less than that hoped for by OUSA, though they believe this is likely due to a large number of students blowing their funds on the non-OUSA paint party on Tuesday. Dunedin boys Two Cartoons have found a few more fans after impressing with their sunshine-, happiness- and rainbows-filled set. She’s So Rad, who have found success as Ladyhawke’s world tour support act, were grunge/electro/’90s shoegaze enough for the altier members of the crowd but still poppy enough to be enjoyed by those of us who are not connoisseurs of the salt. Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown was superb despite not having the massive crowd she’s probably used to, playing songs both new and old – a reminder that, actually, she’s been doing this for a while and is pretty good at it.

Thursday night was a foodie’s fantasy. The International Food Festival featured the cuisine of fifteen different countries in rows of stalls and lines that were confusing enough to make the whole experience seem authentically foreign. The line for tokens was mercifully small, the prices were low, and the stomachs were satisfied. When asked for comment, most attendees simply gestured to full mouths they were attempting to smile through.

As Critic went to print on Thursday night, OUSA staff were predicting that Kora and the comedy night would be the wildest of the week’s events.