Design students demonstrated at the University of Otago yesterday to protest about the proposed closure of the design major course.
''We were trying to let the university know that we weren't very happy with the proposal that had been put forward,'' design student representative Ben Alder said.
The students put up 50 white crosses to represent students affected by the proposed closure, and exhibited some of their design work.
Mr Alder estimated about 20 people went to the demonstration.
The students turned out to oppose the proposal to close the department of applied sciences, which houses the design school.
On campus yesterday, students collected signatures for a petition to save the design school, demanding the university ''honours its commitment to design students and supports their right to complete the design for technology major in its entirety''.
The petition had almost 500 signatures online, and about 800 on paper, Mr Alder said.
According to the proposal document, released after an access to information request by a design student, the closure would lead to seven department staff losing jobs.
Mr Alder said he was upset the university had not given students more information about the proposal, and was concerned students would not be able to finish their degrees if most design staff lost their jobs.
Students would meet sciences pro vice-chancellor Keith Hunter on Monday, Mr Alder said.
