Opinion: Uni students 'like ageing drunken children'

Reuben Henderson.
Reuben Henderson.
In the absence of university students, Dunedinites young and old are free to go about their business in the knowledge that they are safe from drunken crazies and riotous mobs, writes Logan Park High School student Reuben Henderson.

All is peaceful throughout the city. Then, the day looms overhead like a great dark cloud, the day of the students return.

Disorderly conduct returns to the streets, and alcohol fuelled imbeciles attempt to outdo each other in feats of stupidity.

No more is it safe in the city for its permanent residents. From morning to night this blight upon the city is intent upon partying and causing as much trouble as possible for the city's authorities.

Despite the spotlight put on Dunedin during such troubles as the seemingly annual ‘Riot in North Dunedin', students seem unable to comprehend how their intoxicated craziness could be such a problem.

When my friend asked one such student about this just recently, all he received was a blank look which said, "What? People other than students live in this city too?"

Of course, there are students out there who actually come to Dunedin with the intent to study rather than partake of drunken antics, and these students are very welcome to the city.

However, these students are hardly visible amongst the chaos that is ‘O Week' and the following weeks, where the other brand of student gather en mass; the drunken, wacky, tax- payer-money-wasting kind, more inclined to spend their student loans on booze and couches (for burning, of course,) than on anything course related, before dropping out at the end of the year.

Yes, sadly Dunedin is becoming a daycare centre for ageing drunken children. Someone needs to give them a smack.

- Reuben Henderson (17) is a Year 13 student.