Students set to descend on city

Otago University Students’ Association president Hugh Baird is looking forward to representing...
Otago University Students’ Association president Hugh Baird is looking forward to representing student views this year. Photo: Greta Yeoman.
Students are set to flock back to Dunedin for the start of the university year.

Otago University Students’ Association president Hugh Baird said Orientation Week events would begin on February 20 and classes  the following week.

The week’s events would include performances from Six60, The Shambles and Hermitude, as well as two international sports matches, an international food festival and "after-parties" featuring Tinie Tempah and Marshmello.

Mr Baird, who is the former editor of the university magazine Critic, said he was looking forward to the year ahead and  the student executive was working on various projects.

The commerce graduate said the executive’s main areas of focus included working with the Dunedin City Council and  university to increase the glass recycling collection from a fortnightly pick-up to weekly.

Glass rubbish could be seen around the student areas in North Dunedin in part because the blue bins filled up so fast, especially in large flats.

"It’s a bit of an unrealistic expectation [for the bins to last two weeks]."

The OUSA was also planning to have bins available to borrow if students’ bins filled up too fast.

Other goals for the year were increasing the amount of small events throughout the year, and there were plans for a gumboot-throwing competition as well as plastic duck races  on the Leith.

"[They] can be a bit of a laugh."

While the university’s suggestion of vetting costume choices for the Hyde St Party had been strongly opposed by students and the OUSA would not be raising the issue again this year,  students had been alerted to the fact some costume choices might have "taken it a bit too far".

His former role as Critic’s editor meant he already had many contacts around the campus and he was looking forward to being the voice of students on campus, reading reports and attending meetings.

"I’m really happy to represent the students."

For more information about Orientation Week 2017, visit www.ousa.org.nz/events/orientation.

greta.yeoman@thestar.co.nz

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