Police pull over Undie 500 vehicles at Pine Hill road in
this 2008 file photo.
Emily Menkes takes the temperature on campus ahead of
tomorrow's Undie 500 rally.
The notorious Undie 500 is scheduled for this weekend, with
the first cars due in Dunedin tomorrow evening.
Previously, the car-loads of Canterbury and Lincoln
university students have inspired fear among many residents
of Dunedin, or in the case of many Otago students, a thirst
for destruction.
This year they will be met with more of a mixed reception.
Students are apprehensive of the outcome this weekend.
Some believe Dunedin is in for a destructive weekend, while
others think the promised tough line will keep trouble to a
minimum.
Opinions of students I talked to ranged from "[this year]
will have just as much rioting and damage, and as many
arrests as last year and the year before that...", to "when
the authorities say zero-tolerance, they're going to mean it
this time."
Both students quoted have requested to remain anonymous.
Originally organised by the University of Canterbury
Engineering society (ENSOC) in 1989, the Undie 500 was
comprised of only students that were officially registered,
and therefore accountable, for the event.
They would buy a car for under five hundred dollars, and
decorate the car and themselves before driving to Dunedin for
a two-day pub crawl.
In recent years, many slipped through the regulations, and
combined with Otago students and a handful of locals, the
event degenerated into a violent and destructive mess.
ENSOC pulled out of organising the event after 2007's record
69 arrests over the weekend, with themed cars and mattresses
torched on Castle, Dundas, Hyde and Leith Streets.
Even this year's debate on how to contain the event has
stimulated animosity from community and student-based groups.
The DCC has been in the firing line from the Otago University
Students' Association (OUSA) President, Edwin Darlow.
He described dealing with the DCC and its attitude of
"powerlessness" towards the event as "frustrating".
This year, the "official" event has been renamed the "Undie
Charity Drive" in an attempt to change the idea and actions
of the previous events.
More precautions will also be taken, including a ‘good
behaviour bond', and a ‘no diversion' policy for any students
that get charged.
However, some students believes the event is unable to be
rehabilitated.
Emily Platt, a fourth year Political Studies student
believes, "they can't expect to organize an event that keeps
some of elements of the Undie 500, and ignores the others...
That's just wishful thinking".
The recent crackdown on student behaviour has understandably
made students more hesitant and conscientious of the actions,
which many are hoping with be reflected this weekend.
However, as Canterbury students have not been subject to the
same conditions, their behaviour may be more variable.
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