Mark Riethmaier, who was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour during last year's Undie 500, made sure he stayed clear this year, but watched events unfold from his flat.
He believed the media had a big impact and the police presence and response was more than was necessary.
"The media publicity was huge from last year, so everyone wanted to do it this year," Mr Riethmaier said.
His flatmate, Liv McLennan, felt the police behaved well at first, but when it got busier, they changed.
The flatmates watched as about 30 police officers outside their flat donned riot gear and began moving towards crowds of "dancing students".
"The cops wanted to fight as much as the students. They took it too far," Miss McLennan said.
About 50 people were in their front yard and she said police forced about 20 of them, people they did not know, into their flat.
Mr Riethmaier did agree with some police actions.
"I think it was fine they moved everyone into town - and the liquor ban was a good thing because it steered people away from the area," Mr Riethmaier said.
Cherish Low was left with a bruised face and her boyfriend is facing charges after a police officer attempted to move her out of her house.
Miss Low said she was standing on her porch when she was approached by a police officer who was moving people out of the area.
After she informed him she was in her own house, she said, his response was to hit her across the face with his baton.
She said the officer raised his baton to strike her again.
Her boyfriend, Ben Robertson (20), then grabbed the baton with his hand.
He was then struck on the back of the neck by another officer and was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.
Mr Riethmaier, who witnessed the event, said: "It's a joke they would hit a girl the size of Cherish".
Miss Low planned to speak to a lawyer before taking action against the officer involved.
Dunedin and Clutha area commander Inspector Dave Campbell, of Dunedin, said he had not been informed of the incident.
Occupants of flats would have "no doubt" been moved on from the front of their properties in the "skirmish line", a situation which was unavoidable, he said.
He encouraged Miss Low to contact him and was happy to "look into the incident".
Michael Bird (19) also lives in Castle St flat and watched the events from the street.
He said he felt first-year students had a significant role in how the event played out, because they had been influenced by what they had seen on television last year. - Ellie Constantine
