Students' wild behaviour brings warning from university

The vexed issue of student misbehaviour is back in the spotlight as the second semester at the University of Otago gets under way today.

In one development, vice-chancellor David Skegg has warned students by email that they risk the value of their degrees being "trashed" by students who misbehave. And in another, Otago University Students Association has vowed to go to court over several students who have been "removed" from the university because of their conduct.

In a welcome back letter to students, Professor Skegg devotes most attention to the importance of good behaviour and urges them to take responsibility for their actions.

He noted the university's academic staff continued to do outstanding research, several new research centres had been established and researchers had been "very successful" in attracting funding support.

"Despite all these achievements, it is sad to note that the aspect of Otago that has received the most media attention this year, both nationally and around the world, was the disgraceful behaviour surrounding the toga parade in February."

Car and shop windows were smashed and Dunedin's main street was left littered with eggs and rubbish after the 2000-strong parade. Buckets of vomit and faeces were also thrown.

Professor Skegg said it took many years for a university to build a reputation.

"I am sure that Otago students, like the more than 75,000 Otago alumni living throughout New Zealand and around the globe, do not want to see the reputation of their degrees trashed by a very small minority of students."

The letter went on to apologise to "the majority" of students who "did not need" to receive the letter because they had "no inclination" towards antisocial behaviour.

He said that during the year six students had been "removed".

"In virtually every case there are individual circumstances that make me feel considerable sympathy for the student involved. Excessive alcohol consumption is usually an underlying factor and, almost invariably, the students [along with their families] feel deep regret for what has occurred."

He reminded students they were bound by the university's code of student conduct, and attributed a "steep decline" in antisocial incidents to its introduction two years ago.

He also noted, however, "It is apparent that some people have never actually read this."

Last night, student president Edwin Darlow said the association had decided to seek a judicial review over the university's decision to "exclude" several students. The association considered Professor Skegg "acted unlawfully" in applying the code of conduct to behaviour outside the university's jurisdiction. It also considered the appeals board acted unlawfully and that "in any event" the penalty imposed was disproportionate to the offence that was committed.

The association has always opposed the code of conduct on the grounds that the disciplinary measures were too harsh.

Mr Darlow said the association did not condone the conduct during the toga parade but it wanted to ensure members were treated fairly.

"As such, OUSA feels it necessary to seek a judicial review in order to ensure that the university's code of conduct is not applied in a manner that is unfair to our members."

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES