University Shops Struggle With Omicron

Posted 2:58pm Sunday 6th March 2022

The Omicron outbreak has hit Otago Uni’s cafés and food outlets hard. A one-two punch of fewer students on campus and staff shortages have led to financial losses and rolling closures of outlets.  The University Union is like the Pablo Escobar of Dunedin’s campus – Read more...

Wanted: Chip Packets to turn into Survival Blankets

Posted 2:55pm Sunday 6th March 2022

Some of Dunedin’s chip packets will be getting a second chance at life, with a new initiative turning them into survival blankets for rough sleepers.  Jessica Ladbrook is Dunedin’s volunteer coordinator for the Chip Packet Project NZ (CPPNZ). With origins in the British Read more...

Iso Rules Baffle Students

Posted 2:52pm Sunday 6th March 2022

Jake, a Master’s student living in Brighton, is in the middle of a 20 day isolation.  “At the end of our first 10-day isolation we were all joking and saying “oh we’re gonna get it again, haha, we’re gonna have to restart”, and then that’s exactly Read more...

Clubs Struggling without Clubs Day

Posted 1:58pm Sunday 6th March 2022

The Omicron outbreak really screwed up many clubs’ recruitment plans. Most are relying on social media and word-of-mouth, but are finding they cannot replace a good ol’ Clubs Day tent. For the Otago University Tramping Club (OUTC), historically the largest club on campus by Read more...

Peace and Conflict Centre Begins Improvements

Posted 1:53pm Sunday 6th March 2022

A review into the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies has found an “unsustainably toxic” workplace culture despite “excellent” teaching staff and “enthusiastic” students. The University of Otago has committed to a “fundamental reset” in Read more...

Anti-war Protest in the Octagon as Russia Invades Ukraine

Posted 1:49pm Sunday 6th March 2022

A crowd of around 50, including Ukrainians, Russians and others, amassed in the lower Octagon on the 26th to peacefully protest Russian aggression against Ukraine. An anti-mandate convoy passed through at the same time, providing a backdrop of honking, yelling and loud music. The group gathered Read more...

Management Meddling Moves Fresher Frenzy From Friday

Posted 2:43pm Sunday 27th February 2022

It was no coincidence. In a bid to end “antisocial behaviour” on Health Sci Friday, the Proctor worked together with Uni management to shift Health Sci exam dates last year. This attempt to minimise partying worked about as well as you would expect. With the final HSFY exam for Read more...

$4 Lunches Under New Management

Posted 2:33pm Sunday 27th February 2022

For the first time in over 20 years, OUSA’s famous $4 lunches will no longer be served by the Hare Krishna community. This is after Jane Beecroft, known as the “lunch lady” of the Hare Krishnas, announced her retirement in February.  South Dunedin restaurant Tandooree Read more...

Testing Centres "Swamped" after Castle St. Covid Case

Posted 1:40pm Thursday 17th February 2022

Students have flocked to North Dunedin’s Covid-19 testing centre in the hours since a positive case was linked to a Castle Street party. They are now turning away asymptomatic people, asking them to self-isolate instead.   Barely two hours after the University advised all students Read more...

OUSA Discourages Partying, Receives Backlash

Posted 5:10pm Tuesday 15th February 2022

An Instagram post requesting that students “put the parties on pause” has been taken off of OUSA’s story after receiving backlash from students. OUSA has since clarified that they “are not here to kill any good vibes for students,” but wants to ensure parties are kept Read more...