News

Students are gearing up for the 2013 Hyde Street Keg Party as OUSA, the University and the DCC nervously look on. The event has come under heavy criticism in recent years, and it is widely believed that any serious mishaps will spell the end for the party and potentially lead to a North Dunedin-wide liquor ban.

The format of this year’s event, which will take place on Saturday, has been the topic of heated debate, and OUSA has stepped in to help residents ensure the safety of revellers. At the same time, figures within OUSA are acutely aware that any negative publicity arising from the event will now reflect badly on the organisation.

While the DCC and the University had hoped to cap attendance at 2,500, around half that of last year, OUSA has made up to 3,500 tickets available. This will make the party the second-biggest in its history.

Tickets will take the form of non-transferable wristbands in order to limit the event to students, residents, and friends of residents. Residents of Hyde Street have each been given an allocation of 11 tickets to give to their friends. Residents of surrounding the surrounding area, including lower Leith Street, lower Clyde Street, and sections of Albany and Frederick Streets, have also been given tickets.

Approximately 1,000 tickets will also be sold at $5 apiece from the OUSA office. Half will be sold on Monday 8 April and half on Tuesday 9 April, from 11am. Purchasers must be Otago students in second year or above and show a current student ID. According to OUSA President Francisco Hernandez, “proceeds of the ticket sales will go towards paying security, covering the cost of the emergency services there, and providing food and first aid.”

OUSA has taken a number of steps to improve safety at the event. Hernandez told Critic that the organisation has “increased the number of security personnel from four last year to 22. We’re putting on more food ... Meatmail are coming at lunch to provide a pig on a spit, we’ve got student health on site as part of the St John’s crew, “Are You Okay?” volunteers will be there, as well as first aid.”

When interviewed by Critic last month, University Vice-Chancellor Harlene Hayne was clear that the University would oppose future iterations of the event if numbers were not reduced and safety improved from last year. Prof. Hayne attended the 2012 Hyde Street party, and described “carnage literally spread from Hyde Street almost to the botanical gardens with students passed out because they’d had way too much to drink.

“They had no ID on them, we had no way of knowing who they were or where they belonged, so I was very, very concerned about the safety of the individual students.”

Hernandez predicts that any mishaps at Hyde Street this year will have drastic implications for student culture in Dunedin, saying a North Dunedin liquor ban would be “80 per cent likely” in such a scenario. However, Fran also emphasised that OUSA is “not expecting Hyde Street to be a balls-up. We’re expecting it to be a safe and fun event.”