Flatmates do not want proctor sacked for taking bongs
Dunedin students who had drugtaking equipment taken from inside their flat without permission do not want the offending university official sacked.
The University of Otago’s proctor says he made an ‘‘error of judgment’’ entering a student flat and removing three bongs, but maintains he is no ‘‘criminal’’.
Dave Scott, a former police officer, spoke to media yesterday, hours after he apologised to the Leith
St flat’s occupants for his actions. The proctor’s role is essentially a student supervisor.
A flat spokesman said the group accepted his apology. ‘‘We don’t think he’s a bad guy at all, he was just doing his job. But the fact is he did commit an offence that would get anyone without his title in serious trouble’’. The flatmates, who were out of pocket $400 over the destroyed bongs, didn’t want Scott to lose his job.
‘‘He does do a great job as a proctor,’’ he said. Hundreds signed a petition calling for Scott’s immediate resignation, and $25,000 has been committed for a private prosecution against him.
Lawyers around New Zealand have said his actions could amount to unlawful entry.
A visibly upset Scott told media he made a ‘‘human’’ mistake.
His intention was to deal with the situation where the students would avoid prosecution and criminal convictions, but in hindsight he realised this was wrong.
To his knowledge, he would not face disciplinary action or lose his job. Vice Chancellor Harlene Hayne was aware of what happened, he said.
Scott said he entered the flat while delivering information on how to be a good host. At the flat in question he found a sliding door ‘‘wide open’’. He knocked on the door, yelled out, but there was no reply. He saw the three bongs for cannabis smoking. ‘‘I chose to deal with that situation myself, so, wrongly, with the benefit of hindsight, I entered the room.’’
He took the bongs and destroyed them. He wanted students to gain degrees, not convictions. ‘‘I have made a mistake here,’’ he said.