Humanities work foiled

Fundraising efforts for the University of Otago humanities division hit a hurdle at the $6 mark yesterday.

Seven humanities students armed with collection buckets spent an hour in the Octagon collecting donations, including one from Mayor Dave Cull, as part of a public appeal to raise money for the University of Otago Council.

Compassionate Students Fundraising for the University of Otago to be Able to Provide Education  spokeswoman Jule Barth said the group decided to create the appeal in response to information the university would be cutting jobs in humanities departments because of "financial concerns".

"The university council is clearly struggling with where to invest its money, so we’re calling on the community to help them see that investing in their students and staff is essential."

University of Otago humanities students and members of Compassionate Students Fundraising for the...
University of Otago humanities students and members of Compassionate Students Fundraising for the University of Otago to be Able to Provide Education (back, from left) George Hellrieger (21), Mikayla Cahill (21), Jule Barth (23), Louise Lin (22), (front, from left) Emma Powell (20), Emily Moore (20) and Charlie Montague (21) with fundraising buckets they hoped to fill in the Octagon yesterday to help prevent cuts to the humanities division. Photo: Gregor Richardson.

However, when contacted by the Otago Daily Times,  a University of Otago spokeswoman said it was illegal for the university to accept the money because the group was not a registered charity.

In a statement released before the fundraiser,  the group said any funds raised would be presented to University of Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne at a "formal ceremony" next Friday.

"She is expected to give a thank-you speech upon receiving the contributions from the community and will be investing it in the humanities division," the statement said.

A formal ceremony had not been organised, the university spokeswoman said.

"The vice-chancellor has not been asked to meet the students and is unavailable next week, as she is overseas," the spokeswoman said.

Miss Barth said the group had not been aware of its requirement to register as a charity.

"We, as a group, would like to formally apologise for the complications that have arisen now."

The group would now donate the $6 to the Save the Humanities Campaign, she said.

"That $6 and where that is going is actually nothing compared to where the university is putting their profit.

"The university is claiming they do not have the finances to continue funding these positions in the humanities department and yet they do have the funds to pay for the campus beautification project."

The group was not ruling out further action, Miss Barth said.

margot.taylor@odt.co.nz

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