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Last week, 19-year-old University of Otago student Anton Hovius attracted nationwide attention after accusing the University of “draconian” alcohol and Internet usage policies at the Halls of Residence. His comments on the strict alcohol rules and blockage of various file sharing and pornography sites were reported on by the Otago Daily Times and later picked up by the NZ Herald.

Hovius, a former resident of Toroa College, says the local and national media “spun it as if I bust down the door of the ODT and yelled at them.” He was approached by the media after running his campaign for 2015 Colleges Officer on the basis of pushing for fairer internet policies. “Their focus was on the pornography,” he says, “but, you know, ‘sex sells,’ so I get it.”

He says losing the position is “not about being a sore loser” and that he enjoys being able to speak out without the limits of being under an organisation such as OUSA. He adds that because he is not a part of the OUSA Executive, “it’s good because I don’t have to speak under the guise of any formality.”

OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith commented, “It’s important for the students to voice their opinions as it encourages identification of various issues and areas where we can seek improvement.”

Critic has covered the policies put in place by halls in the news feature “Home away from home or really expensive prison?” In the piece, various students and OUSA staff reported feeling uncomfortable with the alcohol policies placed on students in halls – an issue also discussed by Hovius.

The University’s Student Accommodation Director James Lindsay told the ODT that the “primary aim of colleges was to provide an environment where students could focus on their studies.” Hovius responds that as halls are a living space, “you don’t need to be made to feel like you’re at uni all day, every day.”

Sycamore-Smith adds, “OUSA believes Internet speed ought to be a higher priority than censorship. We are of the opinion that students should be able to monitor their own censorship in regards to various websites. However, we are also aware that there are other contributing factors that need to be considered in regards to the Internet.”

Critic asked Hovius about his thoughts on the legal liability placed on the University with the questionable legality of most pornography. He responded, “Shouldn’t we be banning YouTube then?” Hovius agreed there were reasons to ban certain file sharing sites, but that there are still a lot of unnecessary walls in place.

Hovius says he has found a lot of the responses to his comments amusing, “they say I have to find a girlfriend and I have to stop masturbating.” He responds, “I know people can survive without porn, and there are definitely better things to do, but this has sparked the conversation.”