No student exclusions so far this year
THE University of Otago has not excluded a single student so far this year, crediting the ‘‘proactive’’ work of its campus security team and better education for the turnaround.
Last year, nine students were excluded — usually a onesemester suspension — all of them for behaviour during flat initiations.
From 2012 to 2017 a total of 35 students were excluded for a variety of offences, including theft, firerelated incidents and disorderly behaviour.
Proctor Dave Scott put the lack of exclusions down to a ‘‘ton of proactive work’’ by Campus Watch and work by the proctor’s office and university residential hall staff to educate students about the standards behaviour expected at Otago.
That included safety around drinking, parties, flat initiations, broken glass, street fires and behaviour in residential halls.
‘‘This has taken the form of educational initiatives and talking to students in colleges and in flats face to face, and promoting when students are great citizens of Dunedin.’’
While there was still work to be done, the message was starting to stick, and pay off with students, Mr Scott said.
‘‘The credit is with the students themselves this year, who have, for the most part, listened and understood what we’ve been trying to do.
‘‘We know this is a fun place to study and experience the freedoms of our famous student lifestyle. It’s even
of better to see more students doing this safely and respectfully.’’
Incoming Otago University Students’ Association president James Heath said there had been a shift in culture among his fellow students.
‘‘Not away from initiations, but away from ones that are unhealthy and toxic. Students are stepping up and taking responsibility.’’
He believed the purpose of a university was to educate its students, not discipline them, Mr Heath said.
In terms of flat initiations, the OUSA was against offcampus disciplinary powers being used to impose the student code of conduct, he said.
‘‘The solution is working together as a community to make our spaces and events more safe rather than handing out punishments.’’