News

More details have emerged regarding the University’s plans to build a bar on campus, possibly with the involvement of OUSA.

Critic reported on 16 September that the University was “looking into” the possibility of owning or co-owning a bar on campus. On 23 September, the news made its way to the Otago Daily Times who, in true ODT style, reported the story as their own.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne indicated that if efforts to resurrect the Cook fail, the University would consider building a pub. Although the shape and form of such a business venture is yet to be determined, Prof Hayne did make a vague promise: “It is either going to be the Cook or something like the Cook. It is either going to be owned by the University, or somebody else.”

Contrary to Prof Hayne’s reportedly ruthless stance against excessive student drinking, she has come out in favour of a student bar of some description. Rewriting history somewhat, Hayne told Critic that she has “always maintained the importance of students having a safe place to drink and socialise in North Dunedin.”

In recent years the University has purchased several North Dunedin pubs, including Gardies and the Bowler, converting the former into the Marsh Study Centre and the latter into office space. It also opposed the relicensing of the Cook in the wake of the last Cook-A-Thon.

Speaking to the ODT, Prof Hayne said that despite claims to the contrary the University did not have a master plan to snap up all student bars Monopoly-style, and argued that recent closures were due to the bars’ dismal financial performances. The University’s decision to purchase these bars was motivated by their strategic locations, according to Hayne.

The return of the Cook, or something similar, appears to be the University’s preference. Prof Hayne acknowledged the efforts of the Cook’s proprietors to prevent its closure and said that if it were to be resurrected, the University would not compete with it. She further added that, despite what many may think, the University was “actually very sad to see the Cook close.” She’s right. No one believes her.

Prof Hayne maintains that the University is not against student drinking provided it is in a safe place, and believes that the University’s efforts to contain boozy, misbehaving students are working. “I would much rather that the students did their drinking close to campus rather than wandering to the Octagon and, more importantly, stumbling back,” she said.

Doubts persist around the commercial viability of any North Dunedin bar after the Bowler, Gardies and the Cook all closed due to consistent losses. Prof Hayne believes a University-owned bar on campus would be different, however, as it could put in place a more diverse business model. Currently North Dunedin bars enjoy limited business outside of the 38-week study period, or during the daytime, but a University bar could be put to other uses during these periods.

If Prof Hayne’s words translate to more than just support, and the University does build a pub on campus, it is expected that the University “would work very carefully with the student body, to find out exactly what they wanted.” Hayne said that several options are being considered, and indicated that the University would work with OUSA “to find the right solution.”

As for ReFuel – the University-owned pub and venue already on campus – Prof Hayne indicated that another University-owned pub in the area would not mean a pending closure for Re:Fuel.

The University has come out against OUSA owning a bar without the University’s involvement, and figures within OUSA fear the University may withdraw its Service Level Agreement (SLA) funding from OUSA should the association go ahead with any such plan. Plans for a three-year SLA, which would have guaranteed this funding in the medium term, recently fell through after the University changed its mind on the matter.

The debate over a student pub has been the centre of attention in the OUSA Presidential race, with hopefuls Ruby Sycamore-Smith, Zac Gawn and Jordan Watts each holding different positions on the matter. Sycamore-Smith supports a joint OUSA- and University-owned bar on campus, Gawn supports a fully OUSA-owned pub in North Dunedin, and Watts opposes the purchase of a student pub altogether.