Ideas sought on toga alternative

Alternatives to the traditional student toga parade are being sought by the Otago University Students Association (OUSA), following confirmation the parade it organised annually will not be held again.

OUSA saw the ritual of the community welcoming first-year students to the city as a necessary part of bringing students to Otago and was seeking other vibrant and interesting ways to do that, general manager Stephen Alexander said in a statement yesterday.

"The toga parade was established so the community and students could meet and greet each other in a colourful way.

"The welcome seems to have turned more to tit-for-tat disorder between the proudly parading students and some members of the community, so the decision was taken to end it. We want Dunedin to feel happy and proud of the new student intake."

OUSA would welcome ideas from the community about how best to welcome students, he said.