"The grossly irresponsible promotion of alcohol to young people" was also criticised in comments made by Prof Skegg at yesterday's University Council meeting.
All available video footage had been examined and "a number of the perpetrators" had been identified.
Despite many successful events, Orientation was marred this year by the toga parade on February 24, Prof Skegg said.
"Previously, the toga parade has been a happy occasion, but this year it was ruined by a small number of individuals who pelted the freshers with various projectiles.
"The individuals who spoilt the toga parade have clearly not come to terms with the fact that the campus culture at Otago is changing.
"Students who breached the Code of Student Conduct will be referred to the proctor for disciplinary action," he said.
Some of the "lurid details" involving the parade disorder, and which had received prominence in the news media, had been challenged by many witnesses. For example, those who cleaned the streets informed the university they saw "no evidence whatsoever of the foul material that was claimed to have been thrown".
"Nevertheless, the event degenerated into disorder and brought disgrace to the university and its students," he said.
Commenting on alcohol sales, Prof Skegg said a free alcohol promotion in Dunedin North last week on behalf of Speight's beer, a product of Lion Nathan, had provided "a classic example of what I see as the unacceptable face of alcohol promotion.
"Those promoting Speight's last week were not content to have a truck with provocatively clad women (dubbed the "Speight's Perfect Girls") giving away trays of beer.
"They also entered private properties without permission and stapled advertisements to the front door of flats, causing damage which angered the owners."
He had also heard reports of students being encouraged to set fire to shirts to receive a free Speight's T-shirt.
"All Otago students must be accountable for their own behaviour, but how does society expect young people to behave responsibly when companies like Lion Nathan appear to be so cynical in putting profits before public health?"
Prof Skegg said the university had also complained repeatedly about the "inappropriate promotion of alcohol" by retail outlets, including steep discounting and the sale of cheap liquor in the morning. In this respect, the university had lodged an objection and would oppose the renewal of the liquor licence held by the proprietors of the Captain Cook Tavern.
One of the tavern's owners, Richard McLeod, said the Cook- athon had not been held this year, pending a Liquor Licensing Authority ruling.
Approached for comment, Lion Nathan corporate affairs director Liz Read, of Auckland, said it was "extremely unfortunate" university authorities had not felt compelled to talk to Lion Nathan before the comments were made about the Speight's promotion.
The company would have been able to provide more understanding of what staff did to make sure everything done by them during Orientation had been responsible, well-managed and did not in any way contribute to "irresponsible consumption", Ms Read said.
Lion Nathan staff had earlier consulted Dunedin police and liquor licensing staff before undertaking the free alcohol promotion on February 26 and last Thursday and this had been carefully planned and carried out in a responsible way.
Ms Read took issue with the suggestion Lion Nathan had put profits ahead of public health with the alcohol promotion. In fact, some liquor retailers asked Lion Nathan to make some of its products available on a discounted basis during the Otago Orientation, but the firm had turned down those approaches because of concerns about responsible drinking.
The firm had also declined an approach to be involved with a proposed alcohol-related promotion involving a free motor scooter because of its concerns, including over potential safety issues.
She rejected suggestions that "trays of free beer" had been given away during the Dunedin North promotion.
Each student who qualified for the free alcohol through the promotion, which included some flat decorating, received only six cans of beer, which was in keeping with Alcohol Advisory Council guidelines, she said.
The stapling of notices during the promotion was a mistake which had been apologised for, and any damage would be rectified, Lion Nathan staff said.
Ms Read said the shirt-burning had involved a single, isolated incident. One student, who had been wearing a shirt promoting another beer brand, had taken it off after being told that wearing it did not qualify for the Speight's promotion.
The first shirt had then been placed on a barbecue, but this was not suggested or encouraged by staff undertaking the promotion, she said.
The firm was "absolutely confident" that nothing had been done to encourage antisocial behaviour or excessive drinking.
Some of the criticism had been "enormously disappointing" for Speight's staff in Dunedin who had been "very, very diligent" in their efforts, she said.
Main points
• Disciplinary action against toga culprits
• "Irresponsible" alcohol promotion criticised
• Captain Cook licence renewal opposed
• Lion Nathan defends promotion
