Callum Fredric has stepped down as editor of Critic after reaching a settlement with OUSA last Friday. Fredric was suspended after a meeting with OUSA General Manager Darel Hall on Tuesday 7 May.
The terms of the settlement remain confidential. Hall refused to confirm any details to Critic, commenting only that “there was a mutually satisfactory agreement.” However, Wellington magazine Salient has cited “sources close to [OUSA]” who put Fredric’s settlement at around $35,000.
Blogger David Farrar was quick to comment, posting on Kiwiblog on Tuesday afternoon that the size of the settlement indicated that OUSA “didn’t have a leg to stand on.” Fredric is a friend of Farrar and in the past has worked for Farrar’s polling company, Curia.
Farrar also stated that it was “a pity Otago students are the ones who have to fund the employment mishaps of OUSA.” However, OUSA sources have assured Critic that the settlement will be covered by insurance.
Fredric was initially placed on interim suspension on Friday 3 May after Hall received a number of complaints about Fredric’s performance. The suspension became public knowledge on Monday 6 May, after Fredric was asked by police to leave the Critic office.
Fredric was asked to leave after his presence at the office was deemed disruptive. Critic staff can confirm that Fredric had attempted to share details of his employment dispute with staff, in breach of Hall’s instructions. Fredric was eventually trespassed from all OUSA buildings by the Proctor, Simon Thompson. The trespass order remains in place.
Critic contacted Fredric for comment but at the time of publishing has received no reply. However, Fredric has since taken to Facebook, posting a link to Farrar’s latest blog post and writing, “Stay tuned for the full story written by me later in the week.” Critic will publish further details on the story next Monday in issue 13. The position of Critic Editor is now being advertised.
[Article amended 21/5/2013]
Fredric steps down as Critic editor
