Otago Daily Times: Otago University

Rituals scrapped at Knox

Chris Morris — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +1300

Students fear Knox College's traditions are under attack, after the Presbyterian Church moved to ban initiation ceremonies, scrap elitist symbols and tighten rules on alcohol.

University blames non-students over fires

Matthew Haggart — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:29:00 +1300

Non-students living in North Dunedin flats have been blamed by the University of Otago for a marked increase in the numbers of fires being lit last year in the student quarter.

Students welcomed by one in the know

Matthew Haggart — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

A welcome was extended to a group of University of Otago students as they settled into their flat yesterday by a former resident who knew their new home better than they might have expected.

4000 OUSA 'college packs' given to first-years

John Gibb — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

As the start of student Orientation looms next week, Otago University Students' Association staff and volunteers were busy yesterday delivering nearly 4000 "college packs" to Dunedin colleges of residence.

Students are back: the influx begins

Matthew Haggart — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +1300

The northern suburbs of Dunedin are reawakening from their summer slumber as University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic students move back into the area to prepare for a new academic year.

Student discipline to be discussed behind closed doors

Matthew Haggart — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:15:00 +1300

Student disciplinary matters at the University of Otago will be discussed behind closed doors at its first council meeting of the year this week - three months after criticisms were made by a council member about how disciplinary outcomes were being ignored by media.

People contact best part of the job

Matthew Haggart — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:34:30 +1300

A photo-covered wall in the office of Donna Jones at the Otago University Students' Association headquarters says all you need to know about the self-confessed "people person".

Extended liquor ban gets DCC tick

David Loughrey — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:31:00 +1300

The Dunedin City Council, police and the University of Otago have student street parties like the Hyde St keg party - which Mayor Dave Cull yesterday labelled "too dangerous to continue" - firmly in their sights.

More students apply for emergency grants

Matthew Haggart — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Students around New Zealand, increasingly struggling to make ends meet, have claimed almost $3.5 million in emergency financial assistance from the Ministry of Social Development during the past three years.

'Proof in the practice' commentator says of student media watchdog

Matthew Haggart — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

A media watchdog entity being formed by the University of Otago to monitor contentious student magazine Critic and Radio One should not compromise the independence of the two outlets, a New Zealand media commentator says.

Turning up the heat on student housing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:26:00 +1300

Living in a warm, dry flat is a basic right, Otago University Students' Association president Logan Edgar says.

Clinical trial concern

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

The health of patients who take part in treatment trials may be put in danger by Government changes to ethics committees, a group of academics says.

Otago Uni student in Indian police cells

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:17:30 +1300

A young kiwi found himself locked up in Indian police cells after live bullets were found in his luggage at an airport security check.

Build-up for Orientation under way

Matthew Haggart — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:29:00 +1300

Event managers for this month's University of Otago Orientation are finalising expanded plans for the traditional student welcome party.

Researchers support traffic light labels

Chris Morris — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Introducing a traffic light system for food packaging - clearly identifying the best and worst salty foods - would help boost nutrition in New Zealand, University of Otago researchers say.

Mastering the art of weaving

Rebecca Fox — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +1300

Bronwyn Lowe weaves pingao (sedge grass) into a small kete at the University of Otago's Summer School Raranga Kete Whakairo course this week.

Lecturer Roka Cameron said the course aimed to teach students the intricate weaving technique of mahi kete whakairo (construction or making of woven kits).

Moving with the times

Matthew Haggart — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Growing up on a farm near Edinburgh provided Prof Sir Fraser Stoddart with an education from the "university of life", the ground-breaking chemist and nanotechnology pioneer says.

Study links exercise with brain function

Ellie Constantine — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:18:00 +1300

Everyone knows the benefits of exercise for how your body functions, but what about your brain?

Student launches lecture notes sharing site

Sally Rae — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +1300

University of Otago commerce student Hayden Kerrisk admits to being "not much of a note-taker".

Enviro-lies sway buys

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:25:00 +1300

Waves of greenwash are swamping even the most aware of shoppers, writes Andrew Laxon, of the NZ Herald.

Chair to enable new research pathways

Matthew Haggart — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:29:00 +1300

Return of albatross encouraging

Rebecca Fox — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Five years ago, royal northern albatross White-lime-yellow's future hung in the balance, but its return to the Taiaroa Head colony this week means it will help fill in the gaps in researchers' knowledge about where the birds go when foraging at sea.

Don't put it off: performance coach

John Gibb — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Delay no longer in seeing a personal performance coach to help you tackle those procrastination problems.

Chemistry 'stars' meet

John Gibb — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +1300

A conference which begins in Dunedin this weekend has attracted more high profile international researchers than any previous chemistry-related gathering in New Zealand, organisers say.

Footage examined

Matthew Haggart — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:27:00 +1300

Security camera footage is being examined in a bid to identify an alleged offender after a complaint of improper conduct at the University of Otago central library last week.

Canterbury students look south

Matthew Haggart — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:27:00 +1300

Preliminary enrolment figures at Otago Polytechnic have indicated a rise in the number of applications being processed from Christchurch-based students.

Week-long camp for aspiring scientists

Matthew Haggart — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:28:00 +1300

Budding scientists from around the country are getting stuck into their projects at a week-long camp for rural secondary school pupils recruited to the Otago University Advanced School Science Academy.

$10,000 upgrade of university squash courts

Matthew Haggart — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:26:00 +1300

A $10,000 refurbishment of the Otago University Squash Club courts is under way with funding for the project being provided by the Otago University Students Association.

Unit's exciting chances touted

Eileen Goodwin — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +1300

Exciting research possibilities lie ahead for the Dunedin academic unit of neurosurgery, clinical director of South Island neurosurgery Martin MacFarlane says.

Efforts to save amphibians

Matthew Haggart — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:27:00 +1300

International efforts to save amphibious species from threats of extinction are ready to take a leap forward, University of Otago scientist Dr Phil Bishop said.