Last stop, University of Otago in Dunedin. From many of our campus visits, Otago was given a “bad rep” for being a very big drinking school. Although it’s something that was talked about, I can’t help but think “so what?” I’m not saying that high accounts of drinking is a good thing, but guess what? It happens.
Otago is New Zealands ’s oldest university (circa 1869), and was settled by Scottish settlers that had a strong connection to the church and the transforming power of education. There are about 21,000 students there so it is similar to Bowling Green State University’s size (or Owens Community College). According to our hos for the day, it has the highest percentage of full time students and has the highest Maori percentage of “any university”. Our host, David Richardson also made sure to note that 80% of the students that attend come from outside of Dunedin and they “serve the country not the city” (unlike Auckland… or so they say).
I’d just like to take the time to note that, though I can’t remember the stats were given to us from all the other institutions we visit, but I just have this feeling that stats vary widely depending on where you are and who you ask. Again, everyone wants to be the best in some way or another (at least with Auckland and Otago).
Several times the alcohol problem that was said to be very high on this campus was brought up in our discussion (broght up by someone in our group), but it was never really discussed. They admitted that it was a problem and kind of stopped there (the problem will figure itself out). Basically what he said was “it’s not about stopping fun but teaching them how to have safe fun”. I can see why they have this view, especially from a money standpoint. Hear me out: 1. They are known to have high drinking +2. That attracts students =3. More money in their pocket. Whatever attracts students… they’ll take it.
The Proctors office handles all of the discipline problems. Any interesting part of that office is the Campus Watch”
“Their role is essentially pastoral - acting as "walking information booths" on a range of issues, many associated with the transition from Residential Colleges to flatting.”
It was apparent that our host, David Richardson, was very proud of the campus watch and how it has helped cut down on drinking problems on an off campus (drinking problems are highest for second years who are “flatting”, and living off campus for the first time). He told us a story about one of the Campus Watch people who used to be a hair dresser but now works for the Campus Watch. This woman was worried that she wouldn’t have the skills needed for the interactions she would run into. However, her first night a girl’s boyfriend passed away unexpectedly and she sat with the girl all night and helped her through it (using the conversational skills that she used every day as a hairdresser). I believe he gave us this example to show that people from all walks of life work for the Campus Watch.
The Campus Watch idea reminds me of what we learn about UofM (or OSU, I honestly can’t remember) last summer in my Theory class. To help fix the problems of drinking and rioting behaviors on the nights of games, University employees walked around the neighborhoods outside of campus (where students lived) and emphasized the importance of community and respecting community (this was done every year if I’m remembering correctly), and this helped stop with the rioting, and massive drinking problems. Just having faces out there and showing that the administration cares about their students can really make a difference. I think Otago is on to something. .. At least with the Campus Watch. A lot of people in our group were discouraged by how little they talked about the alcohol issues on campus, or avoided answering the questions they had… I think Campus Watch was the answer they were looking for (in disguise). It’s not a solution, but it’s certainly something, and it’s Otago’s way of handling it.
Disability Services
At this campus they were looking for people to meet with Disability Services (I’m in the Counselling group), and after my experience with the Disability Services office at Waikato, I wanted to see what other campuses offered. This was the first employee of and institution that had an apparent disability (I say apparent, because there are plenty of disabilities that we can’t see), and she was a SPIT FIRE and knew her stuff.
The idea of working with and helping students with disabilities is much more new than in the united states. Students that have impairments in high school are not helping because teachers are not trained to work with these students. Upon moving on to tertiary education, students with disabilities are able to get more help (a little late don’t you think? Especially knowing how well prepared students need to be before getting in to tertiary education). Last year, 6% of the student population had some sort of disability and was in need of assistance.
A statement she made that stood out was: “academic staff has a responsibility to THEIR student. Not OUR student, THEIR student”. Oftentimes there’s a diffusion on responsibilityin which academic staff believes that students with disability need to get all assistance elsewhere. Students are still students.
The Maori and Pacific students are welcome in the disability seervics office, but they often seek help elsewhere (from the Maori office of Pacfic Islanders office). From there, the offices will collaborates to ensure that students are receiving the help they need. The Maori and Pacific Islander student often don’t feel comfortable seeking out Disability Services, but do feel comfortable in Maori and Pacific Islander offices. Disability Services understands that and works hard to ensure they receive all the help that they need and would receive from their office otherwise.
Something that no other office talked about was John Kirwin, the rugby player that has been vocal about his depression. This huge star in New Zealand (rugby is BIG there), who has been open and honest about his mental health, which has started a campaign (like mind, like mine). I think it’s absolutely wonderful that a celebrity has been so candid about his illness, which can and has helped a lot of people.
http://www.likeminds.org.nz/page/5-Home
Small tidbit that I fould interesting: Psychology department has been the hardest department to work with. There was a student who was suffering from anxiety and missed a Psychology exam (they did not allow her to make it up).
Deaf Community: There is a strong deaf community in Christchurch and Auckland (not so much in Dunedin) and New Zealand now has their first Deaf Member in Parliament (Mojo Mathers. With this dead woman in Parliament, they are realizing that they don’t have all the tools needed to help her function. I find this interesting because New Zealand sign in considered an official language of New Zealand, but they have a hard time
Conclusion
At the end of the day we met up again and discussed out thoughts about Otago (but David Richardson sat in… awkward). I have a lot of the same feelings about Otago as I did about Auckland (though I like Otago a bit more). Elitism. At the beginning of the day they still brought up statistics and tried to show why they are “better”.
Honestly, I don’t care who is “better”, I want to se how the STUDENTS feel, and what you are providing for them. When I was in Auckland I didn’t get as much of a “student affairs”-type feeling, Otago, definitely more (Disability Services was amazing). Then again, this is just one office. Again, I wish I could have interacted with students more and gotten an idea of what THEY think about Otago.
Note: The hostel we stayed in was haunted and I totally heard something creepy when I woke up in the middle of the night.
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