Magazine disposal spurs fiery protest

Students are calling for government intervention as they protest against a perceived lack of consultation, job restructuring and "censorship" at the University of Otago.

About 170 people braved cold weather yesterday to march on the University Clocktower, in a fiery protest sparked by the disposal of copies of student magazine Critic Te Arohi. Signs included "Apologies are not enough", "Happy to bleed", "People first, brand second"  and "No more bloody censorship, period". Chanting "1, 2 ,3, 4, we know what we’re fighting for" and "5, 6, 7, 8, freedom to communicate", the students marched from the Union Lawn to the clocktower, watched from a distance by members of Campus Watch.

The protest was organised after Campus Watch members removed 500 copies of the  magazine featuring a menstruating woman on the cover from campus. The university proctor has since apologised for the move, which the university  described as a regrettable "mistake" and not an act of censorship. OUSA vice-president Cam Meads said he understood the disposal of the magazines was accidental but the issue was broader than that.

"What made them think that that was an acceptable action to take?" he said.

Student Voice member and protest leader William Dreyer spoke along with academics, Dunedin city councillor Aaron Hawkins and Laura Cairns of the Women’s Plus group. A petition was launched to Education Minister Chris Hipkins complaining about the current support services restructure, the magazines and "token consultation" on the shake-up of Student Health’s mental health services.

"Our voices and wellbeing are under a daily threat," the letter said.

"We are calling for governmental intervention in what we see as a necessary step to promoting long-term change."

Law lecturers Prof Andrew Geddis and Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere spoke to protesters, saying they were attending in their personal capacity as members of the public.

The issue was "not Campus Watch per se" but the university did have "a bit of a problem", Mr Rodriguez Ferrere said.

Prof Geddis said he was pleased to see activism returning to the campus.  Mr Hawkins also spoke in support of the protesters, saying he too was speaking in a personal capacity. A university spokeswoman said  university representatives were  happy to talk to the OUSA and Critic about the possibility of donating sanitary items to the OUSA, which was suggested by the magazine earlier this week. Potentially reimbursing Critic for the loss of the magazines could be part of that discussion.