Student fines fall despite spike

Disciplinary fines dished out to unruly students by the University of Otago proctor last year amounted to the lowest total in the past five years, despite a spike in the number of incidents being dealt with.

Fines issued to 136 students last year amounted to $10,670, about $2000 less than 2010, despite a 54% leap, from 343 to 529, in the number of incidents being dealt with under the university's code of conduct.

Student services director David Richardson said there was no simple answer as to why there had been a rise in the number of disciplinary incidents.

"In general, things seemed busier over the whole year. However, Campus Watch staff were more proactive on the street, especially dealing with problem flats."

The $10,670 in fines amounted to an average of $78 per student, compared with the 2010 average fine of $163.

No student was issued with the maximum possible proctor fine of $200 last year, while four students were issued fines by the provost for attempted fire lighting ($300), fuelling fire ($300), attempted fire lighting ($350) and sending an abusive email ($150).

The maximum amounts for student disciplinary fines have more than doubled this year, after the University Council approved a statute regulation change in November to increase the penalties which can be imposed by the campus proctor and provost.

Otago University Students Association representatives Katie Reid and Jonathan Rowe were the only council members to oppose the increase in disciplinary fines.

Students are now liable for fines of up to $500 from the proctor and up to $1000 from the provost.

The amounts may even rise further if a review being sought by the head of the university disciplinary appeals board, Judge Oke Blaikie, goes ahead because he thinks the increased amounts are still too low.

The Otago Daily Times requested the total amounts of fines issued to students and the number of incidents dealt with after Judge Blaikie called for more balanced reporting on disciplinary matters at a university council meeting in November.

Judge Blaikie said he was concerned about how ongoing reporting of street fires being lit in the student quarter was creating negative publicity for the university, but media were then not following up on the disciplinary process.

Mr Richardson said collating data about disciplinary matters to meet media requests created extra work for university staff outside the student services department's usual reporting cycle.

Students can be penalised under the code of conduct and ordered to make a charitable donation, pay compensation to any affected party or carry out community work at the university, or be given a warning, he said.

Judge Blaikie could not be contacted for comment.

A full report on the university's disciplinary processes is to be presented to the university council at a meeting in February.

Emergency services were called out to multiple fires lit in the student quarter during three weekends near the end of the university academic year.

No arrests were made in relation to incidents when fires services were called to 14 fires on November 12 and 13 - the last weekend of exams - 31 fires on Guy Fawkes Day and five fires on the night of the All Blacks Rugby World Cup final victory on October 23.

Mr Richardson said the incidents during the three weekends had resulted in no offenders being seen by the proctor's office.

The proctor visited one flat in relation to the incidents, but this was to speak to "complainants rather than offenders", he said.