University of Otago design students have vowed to fight
against a bid by the university's management to merge the
design studies department with another department.
A proposal has been put to staff in the departments of design
studies and clothing and textile sciences to merge the two
into a new department of applied sciences.
The suggestion has left some staff fearing for their jobs and
many students "hysterical" about whether they will be able to
complete their degrees.
Design student Lisa Jankowska said while no decision had been
made, there was a risk "to our beautiful, awesome department
and our wonder-ful supportive staff".
"People aren't going to take it lying down.
The students especially, present and future, are ready to
fight this," she said.
Otago University Students Association president Harriet
Geoghegan said a formal proposal had not yet been written for
the future of the departments.
However, if the formal proposal aimed to merge the design
studies department, the university might face large student
protests.
The university has said it was open to alternative proposals,
and staff in the department were working on one.
Ms Geoghegan was advising affected students to liaise with
staff and help with the staff proposal.
john.lewis@odt.co.nz
