Media gag put on Hyde St residents before party

Hugh Baird.
Hugh Baird.
Hyde St residents have been asked not to speak to the media ahead of the street's party this Saturday.

The request comes as students in Hyde St, Otago University Students' Association (OUSA), police and University of Otago all prepare for the annual event which has attracted trouble in the past.

However, both the university and police were yesterday full of praise for OUSA for bringing some order in recent years to the previously unruly party - once called the Hyde St Keg Party and now simply dubbed the Hyde St Party.

OUSA president Hugh Baird said the street's student residents were asked not to speak to media in case they said something that brought the event into disrepute.

There was a danger ''off the cuff comments'' by students ''acting the goat'' could make the event look bad, Mr Baird said.

OUSA put a ''huge'' amount of planning into making sure the party, which was expected to be attended by about 3600 students this year, was a fun event.

''Mainly it's just about providing good security, good food and a good atmosphere for the students to have a safe time.''

There had been talk in recent years the event could be banned, but he did not think this would be possible in the age of social media.

If OUSA did not have some control, it would become an impromptu party and police and other authorities would not have the resources to deal with it.

''All sorts of chaos would ensue,'' Mr Baird said.

He was not worried the removal of a ban on offensive costumes following last year's party would result in people pushing boundaries.

''I trust the students. I think they are all grown-ups and they understand other people's feelings and perspectives.''

According to the event's social media page, themes for costumes of different flats on the street this year include Hydestock 1969, Hyde & Seek, Cirque du Hyde, Summer Heights Hyde and Star Wars: The Hyde Awakens.

A university spokeswoman said the university, as was the case every year, would have extra resources deployed for the party, with all Campus Watch staff rostered
on.

The university believed behaviour had improved over recent years.

''This is partly due to more people taking personal responsibility for their behaviour and also OUSA has done a good job in working with the police, St John and other services to make the party as safe as is possible.''

Inspector Shona Low, of Dunedin, said police had rostered on additional staff.

''There has been an improvement in behaviour in recent years; OUSA have worked with the Hyde St residents and have put additional measures in place each year to ensure there is a safe environment for all students attending the party.

''In discussion with OUSA and other agencies, strategies have been adopted to get safety messages across to all students.''

Police encouraged people to look after each other, not drink to excess and to remember ''a momentary lapse in judgement can have lifelong consequences''.

vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz

Comments

''I trust the students. I think they are all grown-ups and they understand other people's feelings and perspectives.'' says OUSA president Hugh Baird. This comment has to be the biggest laugh of the day- it is so naive
1. Don't trust the students when they are drunk
2. Student teenagers are not 'grown-up'. Adulthood comes about mid twenties.
3. Teenagers are concerned more with their own feeling and perspectives- especially when drunk.
Hugh Baird needs to study human development and psychology.

Probably that course called
Trust No One 101: Behaviourists. Reinforcing negative stereotypes of young people through socialised determinism.

 

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