The disciplinary report, released by university vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne, highlighted the "antisocial behaviour of a minority of students", while also praising the well-behaved majority.
Feedback about the organised roster of events during Orientation Week, developed in close collaboration between the university and the Otago University Students' Association, had been "uniformly positive", she said.
Prof Hayne said she had attended all of the headline Orientation Week events, held for the first time at Forsyth Barr Stadium, and the OUSA sports day.
"It was a great pleasure to work with OUSA ... I had the opportunity to meet hundreds of bright, enthusiastic, polite and well-mannered students." A new university-led initiative to provide "additional academic and pastoral information to students and their parents" was well received, she said.
However, away from the organised events Orientation had also brought with it some undesirable conduct by returning students.
"Unfortunately, the antisocial behaviour of a minority of students was extremely dangerous and put their safety and the safety of others at risk.
"This highly disappointing behaviour was not connected to the official programme of Orientation events, which were well-organised and overwhelmingly trouble-free," Prof Hayne said.
The university had moved swiftly to discipline students found to be involved in antisocial behaviour.
About 169 students had been seen by the proctor and "at this stage", several had been disciplined accordingly, Prof Hayne said.
About 26 students had been fined, 17 given community service, and seven required to donate food to the foodbank.
One had been ordered to pay compensation for damage.
Eight students had been referred to the provost for consideration of more severe penalties, which may include exclusion from the university.
She had also visited and spoken to several individuals.
The proctor was continuing to identify and deal with students involved in antisocial behaviour during Orientation Week, she said.
"We want to send a clear message: Lighting fires, throwing bottles, destruction of property and other forms of antisocial behaviour are totally unacceptable and the university is determined to stamp out these activities.
"At the same time, we are committed to maintaining the high quality of student life that Otago is renowned for.
"We strongly encourage students to have fun, but that fun should not occur at the expense of other students or members of the general Dunedin community," Prof Hayne said in her report.
