Tightlipped on camps review

THE University of Otago is refusing to answer further questions about an independent review of controversial secondyear law camps, saying to do so would be ‘‘counterproductive’’.

The Otago Daily Times yesterday reported Dunedin barrister David Sim, of Downie Stewart Lawyers, had been asked by the university to conduct an independent review of the camps.

The move followed complaints of excessive drinking, jellywrestling and other inappropriate behaviour at previous camps, which were organised by the Society of Otago University Law Students.

However, a university spokeswoman would not be drawn on further details of the review process, including the selection of Mr Sim, when contacted again yesterday.

Nor would she discuss how the review would promote a safer culture at the university, or whether disciplinary action could follow if inappropriate behaviour by staff or students was identified.

The ODT also asked for more details on the 11 ‘‘communications’’ the university said it had received since concerns about the law camps were first raised on March 5.

The ‘‘communications’’ were not ‘‘expressed as a formal complaint’’ when received, the university said on Monday, but the spokeswoman would not elaborate yesterday, either. ‘‘We don’t want to prejudice our own review. ‘‘We want to be able to have the time and space to be able to do it, and to continually dripfeed through the media would be counterproductive,’’ was all she would say.

No timeline had been set for the completion of the review, but it was hoped it would be completed within months, the university said in a statement on Monday.

Mr Sim also declined to comment yesterday, saying it would be ‘‘totally inappropriate’’, even after the review was completed.